Yoko Masahisa Fukase

*Available only in Europe

Originally published in 1978 by the now-defunct Asahi Sonorama, Yoko is a seminal photobook based on a series of works Masahisa Fukase photographed of his wife, Yoko, between 1964 and 1976 for the magazine Camera Mainichi. Long out of print, this masterpiece has been brought back after more than half a century under the supervision of Tomo Kosuga (Masahisa Fukase Archives). Its reissue commemorates the 2025 release of RAVENS, a film by British director Mark Gill that intertwines fact and fiction to depict the lives of Fukase and Yoko.

The collection captures the couple's wedding, their newlywed life in the Soka housing complex in Saitama, their travels to New York for the landmark New Japanese Photography exhibition at MoMA, and visits to their respective hometowns in Hokkaido and Kanazawa. Since the original 1978 edition was published after their divorce, editor Akira Hasegawa famously structured the book with interlaced photographs of ravens—reflecting Fukase’s growing sense of isolation. This new edition retains the original contributions from legendary editor Shoji Yamagishi and author Harumi Setouchi (Jakucho).

However, this reissue also introduces significant updates. It features a new text from the subject herself, Yoko Miyoshi (formerly Fukase), and an essay by photo historian and curator Masako Toda. The book’s dimensions have been enlarged for a more immersive viewing experience. Furthermore, while the original edition largely cast Yoko as the passive object of Fukase’s gaze, this version intentionally includes photographs suggesting that Yoko was also looking back at Fukase, rebalancing their relationship. The cover has been completely refreshed with a new design by graphic designer Chikako Suzuki.