Japanesque Ikko Narahara

This is a photobook by the Japanese photographer Ikko Narahara.

Narahara began taking photographs in 1946, while studying law at university and later pursuing graduate studies in Spanish art history. During this time, he spent his spring breaks and other free periods taking photographs while interacting with rising artists such as Masuo Ikeda, Atsushi Kawahara, Tatsuo Ikeda, and Shuzo Takiguchi, all the while aiming for a career in art criticism. In 1956, his first solo exhibition, The Land of Humans, attracted wide attention for its refined compositions and unconventional subjects, marking a turning point that set him on the path to becoming a professional photographer.

He later became a member of the self-run agency “VIVO,” founded by Eikoh Hosoe, Shomei Tomatsu, and Kikuji Kawada. From 1962 to 1965, he was based in Paris, and from 1970 to 1974, in New York, traveling across the United States, Spain, Italy, and various other countries, producing work continuously throughout his life.

This book is a carefully selected compilation of his series Nihon Zufu and Extra Nihon Zufu, which were published over eight issues of the photography magazine Camera Mainichi from March 1968 to November 1969. It is organized into eight chapters, each representing a key symbol of Japan: “Mount Fuji,” “Swords,” “Noh,” “Zen,” “Color,” “Sumo,” “Connection,” and “Seal.” Each theme reflects Narahara’s deep attachment to his homeland, cultivated during his long years abroad, as well as a sense of urgency about the disappearance of traditional Japanese aesthetics amid rapid Westernization.
The book showcases Narahara’s signature mastery of composition, along with his sophisticated use of diverse photographic techniques—including long exposure, solarization, and color—applied thoughtfully to suit each subject. It is a testament to his extraordinary skill and creative freedom. The book was edited by Shoji Yamagishi, editor-in-chief of Camera Mainichi, with the design by Ikko Tanaka, one of postwar Japan’s leading graphic designers.