First published in 1990 on the day of his wife Yoko’s funeral, “Chiro My Love” is Nobuyoshi Araki’s touching photographic essay dedicated to the couple’s beloved cat. This 2002 Heibonsha Library edition reproduces the intimate black-and-white snapshots taken between 1988 and 1990. The book captures Chiro—who Araki initially claimed to dislike but soon fell in love with—as a vibrant presence in their home during Yoko’s final years. From playful moments on the balcony to quiet scenes of Chiro resting near Yoko, the photographs serve as a sentimental bridge between life and death. Araki famously placed a copy of this book in Yoko’s coffin, as she had been eagerly awaiting its publication.
