Takashi Homma on His Photobook Philosophy and New Release 'Portrait of J'

At 63, Takashi Homma has an impressive portfolio of over sixty publications, with his newest photobook titled 'Portrait of J' (Dashwood Books/Session Press, 2025). This work showcases portraits taken since 2002, featuring celebrities, friends, and children. In a conversation with Marigold Warner, he shares his inclination towards slim photobooks, his admiration for Nobuyoshi Araki, and mentions the cover design by architect Kazuyo Sejima, which responds to Wolfgang Tillmans' portrait book cover of Rem Koolhaas. The title alludes to Japanese identity and John Williams' 1982 album. Homma also points out the significant decline in Japan's population by nearly a million last year, emphasizing the book's importance. He reminisces about his early career in 1990s Tokyo and asserts that he retains 90-95% control over his book production, setting him apart from other Japanese photographers.