Japan, A Photo Theater

Originally published in 1968 – the year which also saw the launch of the influential Provoke magazine – the book already demonstrates Moriyama’s trademark visual style. On invitation of Japanese writer Shuji Terayama, Moriyama began photographing members of a traveling theater group, adding shots of dwarf show dancers, strip clubs, street performers, fetuses in formaldehyde containers and other motifs.

“Japan, A Photo Theater” concludes with detailed information regarding the photographs’ creation and their first appearances in Japanese magazines.