An Iconic Photographer’s Depiction of a Kabuki Legend
Long before he became a titan of Japanese photography, Hiroh Kikai spent the better part of 1976 trailing a young Tamasaburo Bando V — the kabuki actor who would eventually become a Living National Treasure. At the time, 31-year-old Kikai was an aspiring photographer working as a truck driver and tuna boat crewman, while 26-year-old Tamasaburo was already an established star.
This exhibition displays 25 works, including vintage prints that Kikai developed in his darkroom and kept hidden for over 40 years, and modern prints recently made from Kikai’s negatives. It’s a stunning tribute to Tamasaburo’s versatility as a young actor, depicting him in roles such as Lady Macbeth and performing in Yukio Mishima’s Modern Noh Plays. Capturing the intersection of two legends in the making, the images also showcase early traces of Kikai’s signature style — a candid, deeply empathetic understanding of his subject’s essence — which would later culminate in his acclaimed Persona series.
