Cheese ! Or Purikura in Japan (Marièke POULAT)

Thanks to Amélie Poulain¹, we were able to see an another facet of photo boothes... From very bothersome, and even particularly awfull for those who have to make an ID photo (yes, you know, the one on which you can even begin to smile...), they have become a lot more romantic... Well... Japanese people have done better than Amélie. Indead, in Japan, photo boothes have become an entertainment for itself, not only a place where you can make pictures in group (and even in a big (big) group), but also a place where you can customise them.

Indead, if there still exist some photo boothes as we know them all around the world to make official photos, in Japan you will also be able to find an another version a lot funnier in most of the Game Centers, Commercial Centers and districts where younger people are meeting themselves. In that cabins, called Purikura, decorated by huge pictures and closed by long curtains, no adjustable seat in the center and a wider space to the one of our photo boothes: these cabins are about 4 square meters. On a side, a touch-sensitive screen is toped by an objective. Around them, on the same side, many lamps are flooding the room by light, making us more beautiful... and, on the opposite side, a white wall, in order to allow the creation of special effects... well... of background effects.

Due to the size of the room, a group of 8 people, and even more, but you will have to pack, can enter it. You insert 400¥ with coins of 100¥ and it's all: a voice begins to give you the instructions to follow as a real photo booth, in japanese of course ^^... But no need to worry: you don't need to understand to know what you have to do: you only have to choose the backgrounds, the frames and the light effects you want for the next photos... Attention, however, there is a limited time to make your choose which depends of the cabins. Once your choice is made, you have to be reactive. The number of photos depends of the cabins too, but it often varies from 4 to 6, without a pause: so here again, get ready ! Hurry to take different exposures and... DON'T look at the SCREEN ! (look at the OBJECTIVE !) ;)

Once the photos are done, you have to go out and a new work begins: you have to customise the photos you have just taken. On the back of the cabin, you will found out to new touch-sensitive screens hidden by other curtains. They are equiped with stilettos which allow you to add text, images, different background or even different type of make-up, as mascara, hair color... A bow in the hairs here, a hat there... well, no. Sun glasses finally... And, why not some hearts ? And the date ! Have you put the date ? Then, you can modify everything ! Moreover, due to the luminosity of the room, the skin is clear and clean and you will look at your best: no more acne and dark circles... Not to mention that if you are from occidental type, you will certainely be really surprised by the size of your eyes: as most of asian people do not like to much their slanting eyes, they are enlarged... Do not ask me how it works, I do not know... but it actually works and if you have already big eyes, then they will finally just be huge ! In comparison, the eyes of the innocent manga girls are nothing ! O-O

Then, once again in given time, you will have to type in your e-mail adress: then, you wil be able to download one of the photos you made on your phone (yes, you receive emails on your phone, not sms... I will have to write a new article about that ^^). After that, the photos will be printed out. While waiting, most of the cabins offers a little puzzle or game. After some seconds, two sets of your photos come out. If you are numerous, which is often the case, it is possible to choose different size for the photos and to use the available scisors, to share the photo which are most of the time going to be placed in the purses which are already full of them...

Yes, to make purikura is very popular in Japan... and you will love it without any doubt. Firstly, because for once, you will look at your best on a photo. The manga effect of the depiction is really interesting and this is always a pleasure to not look pale (or worst, green...) and to see diseappear your spots... isn't it ? And, secondly, because it is really fun to make group pictures (go down, go down I said ! We can't see you on the picture !) and to customise all the pictures in some seconds (Hurry up ! Only two seconds are left ! Hurry ! You only made one eye for now !!). Then, it is to do and do again throughout your visits, as you should become more an more gifted: at the end of your trip, you should have enough time to customise correctly all the pictures ^^

POULAT Marièke

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1 A famous French movie realised by J.-P. Jeunet in 2001.