Kohei Yoshiyuki (1946–2022) was a prominent Japanese photographer known for his daring and controversial documentation of Tokyo's subculture. He first gained notoriety in the early 1970s with his series 'Kōen' (Park), which used infrared film and modified flash attachments to capture clandestine sexual encounters and voyeuristic behavior in city parks at night. His work revealed a hidden, illicit underbelly of Japanese society that contrasted with its polished public surface. After working for news agencies like Keystone Press, he became a freelance photographer, publishing his work in various magazines before establishing himself as a significant figure in modern photography. His prints are held in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[1,2,3,4,5]
Document: Yoru no Kouen (Document: Night Park)1981 · Sunday, Inc · book · JapaneseISBN 4882030136Photographs of people at night in sexual activities in parks in Tokyo.
Exhibitions
1979Kōen (Park)Komei Gallery, Tokyosolo
References
Kohei Yoshiyuki - Biography. Yossi Milo Gallery link
Document: Yoru no Kouen (Document: Night Park)photographer
