Published by Aperture in 1986, “Black Sun: The Eyes of Four” is a landmark anthology exploring the evolution of postwar Japanese photography. The volume presents an unprecedented portrait of a nation shaped by the “black sun” of the 1945 atomic bombings. It brings together four of Japan’s most significant photographers: Eikoh Hosoe, whose “Kamaitachi” dramatizes rural demon myths; Shomei Tomatsu, who documented the social and physical scars of Nagasaki; Masahisa Fukase, whose “Ravens” series serves as a somber symbol of personal and national grief; and Daido Moriyama, who captured the gritty intensity of modern Tokyo. Accompanied by Mark Holborn’s insightful essay, the book remains a definitive reference for understanding the fusion of traditional roots and avant-garde innovation in Japanese art.
