Yukio Mishima's Photographic Collaborations and Death Performances Explored

An article examines the photographic collaborations of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima (born Kimitake Hiraoka, 1925–1970), highlighting how he used photography to construct his public identity and explore themes of death, body, and performance. Mishima worked with several notable photographers, including Eikoh Hosoe, Kishin Shinoyama, and Yatō Tamotsu. His partnership with Hosoe began in 1961, resulting in the series 'Barakei' (later translated as 'Ordeal by Roses'), which featured staged images in Mishima's home, blending nudity, erotism, and references to Western art. In 1970, Shinoyama photographed Mishima for 'Otoko-no shi' ('A Death of a Man'), a series depicting staged deaths, completed just days before Mishima's actual suicide by seppuku on November 25, 1970. The article notes Mishima's involvement with the private militia Tate no Kai (Shield Society) and his fascination with the samurai code Hagakure, which influenced his aesthetic and ethical views. It also covers his early life, literary works like 'Confessions of a Mask' (1949) and 'Forbidden Colors' (1951–53), and his engagement with Butoh performance. The piece contextualizes these collaborations within Mishima's broader artistic trajectory, marking the centenary of his birth and 55 years since his death.