Kohei Yoshiyuki - Document Park - 1980

Document Park

Kohei Yoshiyuki
Sebunsha/1980/Japanese/258*213*8/Second printing

The photo book Document Park by Japanese photographer Kohei Yoshiyuki, who emerged in the 1970s, showcases his pioneering "voyeuristic" photography. The setting is near Shinjuku West Exit’s Central Park, during a time when skyscrapers had yet to dominate the skyline. Yoshiyuki's fascination began one night after a shoot when he stumbled upon a couple's intimate moment in the park. A place that served as a playground for children by day transformed into an adult rendezvous spot by night. Intrigued by this shift, Yoshiyuki began frequenting the park, using infrared cameras to capture close-up shots of couples in intimate acts. These scenes attracted not only the couples but also men who watched them, leading Yoshiyuki to expand his exploration to parks like Yoyogi, where he encountered gatherings of homosexual men. His documentation of not just heterosexual couples but also homosexual encounters and the men who observed them offers a unique "night park" narrative. Despite the ethical concerns, these unprecedented works have garnered global attention, becoming prized collector's items. The book includes an interview with Nobuyoshi Araki and is a first edition, first printing.