"If you know Japan you'll know a certain kind of drinking place called a snack. They are found all over the country, in large cities and small towns. Typically they consist of a counter and a few stools, perhaps a booth or two, usually presided over by a middle-aged woman, the mama, or less often, by a man, the master. The customers tend to be regulars. Unlike a regular bar where a first time customer simply walks in and sits down, the etiquette in a snack for a newcomer is to first ask the mama if it's ok to come in. The entertainment, if one can call it that, apart from a simple drink menu, is conversation with the mama, conversation with other customers, and karaoke. At the time of writing they are considered the least fashionable places in the country to have a drink. Some years ago while travelling in Japan I noticed that every town seemed to have a snack named 'Sakura'. Sakura, or cherry blossom, is so common a name for a business. It really did seem like every town had one and, upon checking with the All Japan Snack Owners Association, they confirmed that indeed, among their members, Snack Sakura was the most common name. And so I decided to try and visit and photograph as many as I could, across the country from Okinawa to Hokkaido."