PERSONA The FINAL CHAPTER 2005 – 2018 Hiroh Kikai

Hiroh Kikai (1945–2020) stands as one of the most prominent figures in post-war Japanese photography. For over 45 years starting in 1973, Kikai dedicated his life's work to photographing ordinary people within the precincts of Asakusa Temple. This legendary portrait series, known collectively as "PERSONA," has earned profound acclaim worldwide.

Published 15 years after his internationally celebrated volume PERSONA (2003), this book serves as the long-awaited final chapter of his Asakusa portraits. Standing in a corner of the temple grounds from morning until night, Kikai watched thousands of passersby, patiently waiting to encounter individuals who possessed what he called "naked eyes." Approaching only one or two people a day—and often coming away with none—Kikai utilized his unmatched observational eye to capture 205 anonymous subjects, each asserting an overwhelming presence against a plain, dark-red wall.

The unique, brief captions accompanying each photograph encapsulate the subjects' lives, stirring the viewer's deep imagination. Peering behind the social masks to reveal the raw truth of human existence, this monument stands as the ultimate culmination of a photographer who dedicated his entire life to the portrait.