Ikko Narahara - Japanesque - 1970

Japanesque

Ikko Narahara
Mainichi Shimbun/1970/Japanese/370*260*15

Since the 1960s, renowned photographer Ichiko Nara has been active on the global stage. Following his previous photo books, “Europe: Frozen Time” and “Spain: The Great Afternoon,” his third photo book, “Japanesque ,” has been released. Having spent several years in Europe during the 1960s, the photographer felt a sense of solidarity rooted in solitude, as well as a growing sense of distance between the conceptual “Japan” he had imagined and the real ‘Japan’ he encountered upon his return. This book, “Japanesque,” expresses his journey to find answers to his complex emotions, a journey to a country that is both near and far. Traditional Japanese elements such as “Fuji,” “Katana,” “Noh,” “Zen,” “Color,” “Sumo,” “Awa Odori,” and “Samurai” are captured through a Western perspective and a Japanese perspective, reflecting a deep love and anxiety. Edited by Akira Yamagishi, art direction by Ikko Tanaka. Slipcase missing. (Included in “The Japanese Photobook 1912–1990”)