Shomei Tomatsu's 'Skin of the Nation' Photographic Series Explores Postwar Japan

Shomei Tomatsu's photographic series 'Skin of the Nation' examines the complex transformation of Japanese society following World War II. The work captures the tension between traditional culture and Western influence during the American occupation. Tomatsu's images document both the physical scars of atomic destruction and the psychological impact on national identity. His photographs reveal everyday objects transformed by radiation alongside emerging consumer culture. The series includes haunting depictions of Nagasaki survivors and their keloid scars. Tomatsu's approach combines documentary realism with poetic abstraction to convey collective trauma. His work became foundational for postwar Japanese photography, influencing generations of artists. The series was originally published in 2003 through artcritical's platform.