The mysterious subject of Issei Suda’s photograph is an
elegantly attired Nishimonai Bon dancer, a participant in a yearly “dance with
the spirits of the dead.” With a history stretching back over 700 years, the
dance pays respect to one’s ancestors and to the past, with dancers performing
with hoods or hats covering their faces. In his photographic work, Suda was
wholly focused on documenting the tension between Japan’s traditions and its
changing culture, making this modern black-and-white portrait of a dancer
calling upon the past an ideal subject.