Kyotographie 2019: the vibe of Japan’s new era
The Kyoto photographic festival endeavours to take the pulse of the country. From an examination of the elderly from the perspective of a bento box delivery man, to ancient erotic art and a humorous look at the ideals of 50s America, Karin Andreasson picks out some of the highlights
Kyoto’s annual photographic festival, coinciding with the start of Japan’s new imperial era, will attempt to read the country’s mood and expose its hidden problems.
On 1 May Japan enters the Reiwa era. Depending on how you read it it is either a welcome break from the past, marked by the 2011 tsunami and nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, or a sign of an increasingly authoritarian dominance (Rei stands for order, which comes with militaristic overtones and Wa means harmony).