The ‘New iPad Samurai’ waits ... and waits ...

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Every day on World Now, we choose a striking photo from around the globe. Today we spotted this self-described ‘New iPad Samurai’ in line outside an Apple Store in Tokyo.

The new version of the iPad went on sale Friday in Japan, and buyers were lined up early outside the store, including Ryo Takahashi, who brought along a placard and a samurai wig.

‘The hype around the iPad in Tokyo highlights what has become a sobering reality for a country once considered the technological trend-setter,’ the New York Times blogged two years ago when the iPad was introduced. ‘Japan now frequently looks overseas for innovation.’

But camping out for the iPad is also a sign of a return to normalcy in Japan a year after it suffered a devastating earthquake and tsunami: Apple delayed releasing the iPad 2 last year as a gesture of respect for the country as it recovered from the disaster.

Spot a remarkable shot from around the world? Please tweet it to us at @latimesworld.

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