It seems the long hours at the office, or the many holiday parties, have gotten the best of many of Tokyo’s inhabitants. Last December, CNNGO.com posted a photo blog from photographer Adrian Storey which has amassed wide popularity, and even a few chuckles. The photo blog depicts citizens of all types catching awkward late-night naps along the many city streets.

So a Japanese siesta amounts to a public nap in the wee hours of the night, and pretty much wherever you want. Some of these people look as if they simply collapsed where they stood under the weight of their exhaustion, and some even look as though they could be posed. Apparently this happens often enough that Storey is able to make this an ongoing project.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been that tired. I can’t help but wonder why some of these folks didn’t grab a bunk at a capsule hotel, but then I wonder if there was “no room at the inn” (which I’ve written of previously).

My guess would be that some of these are taken near Sanya, a district infamous for it’s street-sleeping pedestrians and is commonly referred to as the east Tokyo ghetto. The area is full of cheap restaurants, yakitori stands, and ramen shacks that are open late into the night. Sanya’s “nightlife” caters mostly to foreign travelers, the homeless, travelers with little budget, and day workers looking to score a quick job at one of the many nearby construction sites. Add to that the huge “shotengai” (shopping arcade) and crowded liquor store in the town square and you have a recipe for a great photo blog.

So next time you’re in Japan and see a well-dressed person sleeping in the street you can either take a picture or join them as apparently both are quite acceptable.