When the Taiwanese photographer lived in Japan, he found the working days were long and conforming was essential

Reflecting on his three years in Japan, Taiwan-based photographer Jeff Liang says, “Someone said to me once that Japanese society is like nigiri rice – that’s a perfect ‘bowl’ of rice, formed with your hands: nothing can fall out, or stick out – every single grain of rice must stick together to make it work. In Japanese culture, conforming is deemed essential.”

He had arrived in Japan on a working holiday visa and found a job as a souvenir shop clerk in Osaka, before being hired as a photographer and designer for an app. His office was in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s busiest areas. “I was working for a Taiwanese company though, so my working day was only 10am to 8pm. It sounds long, but that’s pretty short by Tokyo standards. From 8am to 10pm is more normal. People are afraid to leave early and make a bad impression.”