Two Filmmakers Share Their Rare Japanese Photographs

For more than a decade, filmmakers Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck-with such writing credits as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Star Wars– began collecting unique Japanese photographs. Their ongoing hunt has resulted in one of the greatest private collections of photos from the land of the rising sun that range from the 19th century to present day.

Views of Japan, printed by Steidl chronicles their love for Japanese photography and their experiences collecting it. The new book includes a selection of over a hundred images, along with a personal ‘script’ recounting how they scouted, debated, selected and acquired the works in their collection.

Take a look at a selection of photos from their ongoing hunt which seems indeed like a Hollywood movie.

Yakuza being tattooed, Illuminance of the Street 1990 (Hoshi Haruto/Steidl)

Girl blowing bubble from “Chewing Gum and Chocolate” series 1958 (Shomei Tomatsu/Steidl)

Woman In Rain With Umbrella c. 1880s (Baron von Stillfried, Kusakabe Kimbei/Steidl)

Samurai c. 1880s (Kusakabe Kimbei/Steidl)

Rockers’ gang, from “Flash-up” series c. 1975 (Seiji Kurata/Steidl)

Tokyo demonstration, Helmets from “A Chronicle of Grief and Anger” series 1960 (Hiroshi Hamaya/Steidl)

Women “Ama” divers, seaweed harvest 1956 (Yoshiyuki Iwase/Steidl)

Tokyo demonstration, Ike Visit from “A Chronicle of Grief and Anger” series 1960 (Hiroshi Hamaya/Steidl)

Teahouse hostess and drunk customer, from “Zokushin” series c. 1972 (Hiromi Tsuchida/Steidl)

(l-r) Men at Motor Show c. 1960; Grinning female shamans
from “Ba-ba Bakuhatsui!” series c. 1970 (Shigeichi Nagano; Masatoshi Naito/Steidl)

Kid asleep on table, from “My Family Is A Pubis So I Cover It In Pretty Panties” series 2014 (Motoyuki Daifu/Steidl)

(Steidl)