Photographs by Tamotsu Yato

Seppuku　1960's　Vintage gelatin silver print

Former actor Tamotsu Yato, took up the camera and left an impressive oeuvre of mostly male nudes. With three publications to his credit, Taido, Naked Festival, OTOKO , his gaze undoubtedly focuses on the male figure, and the infamous writer Yukio Mishima was not one to miss out. Yato captures Mishima demonstrating his passion and obsession towards the Seppuku, using tube chocolate as fake blood. The photograph shown above is a part in a series of 7, depicting 7 steps within the ritual. It is said that Mishima often proudly displayed these portraits to his circle of intellectuals and fans.

1970 Mr. Japan -Takemoto Nobuo　1971　Vintage gelatin silver print

Bodybuilders were one of Yato's primary subjects through the course of his career. Around 40 vintage prints of portraits of bodybuilding champions can be found today, though their whereabouts are often very hard to locate. This portrait of bodybuilding champion Nobuo Takemoto, taken outside the gym, vividly expresses Yato's keen obsession towards the male structure.

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