Santa Fe

• Historic Cultural Moment: Sold over 1.5 million copies, sparking the infamous “hair-nude” boom for its inclusion of uncensored pubic hair—a first in mainstream Japanese media.
• Unfiltered Collaboration: An intimate and bold artistic partnership between Shinoyama and an 18-year-old Rie Miyazawa, who was then at the height of her fame.
• Southwestern Aesthetic: Set against the rustic charm and sun-drenched landscapes of Santa Fe, the book contrasts natural serenity with human vulnerability.
• Mixed Media Format: Skillful juxtaposition of soft-focus color photography and stark monochrome images enhances the emotional depth and visual rhythm.
• Collector's Treasure: A milestone in photographic publishing, Santa Fe continues to be a must-have for collectors of Japanese erotica and cultural photography.

Released in 1991, Santa Fe by Kishin Shinoyama shattered expectations—and taboos—across Japan. At its center was Rie Miyazawa, one of the country’s most adored public figures, who dared to appear nude in a time when mainstream Japanese photography still tiptoed around such subjects. The result was not just a photobook, but a national phenomenon that redefined celebrity, censorship, and the boundary between art and scandal.

Set against the earthy tones and spiritual calm of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the photographs in this volume highlight contrasts: between age and innocence, fame and intimacy, East and West. Shinoyama’s lens treats Miyazawa’s body as a canvas for light and shadow, while his compositions evoke cinematic stills—poised between contemplation and revelation.

Key Highlights:

• Censorship Breakthrough: The first major Japanese photobook to include visible pubic hair, breaking long-standing taboos and triggering a wave of similarly styled “hair-nude” works.
• Celebrity Vulnerability: Captures a moment of transformation in Rie Miyazawa’s public persona—from wholesome idol to empowered subject of artistic narrative.
• Global Visual Context: Set outside Japan, the choice of Santa Fe lends the series a foreign sensibility, allowing the subject’s vulnerability and cultural identity to unfold in unfamiliar terrain.
• Commercial and Critical Impact: Despite public backlash and tabloid obsession, Santa Fe was both a commercial hit and a milestone in modern Japanese visual arts.
• Elegantly Executed: Printed on high-quality paper with large-format presentation, the book balances sensuality with restrained elegance, never descending into voyeurism.

Santa Fe endures as a symbol of artistic courage and commercial daring. It marked a watershed moment in Japanese visual culture, not only for what it portrayed, but for how it forced a nation to reconsider the role of nudity, celebrity, and creative freedom.

Are you ready to explore the sensual, the sacred, and the subversive through one of Japan’s most talked-about photographic works?