RED FLOWER, THE WOMEN OF OKINAWA

A photobook by Mao Ishikawa, a photographer born in Okinawa. This volume brings together 80 black-and-white photographs, including both previously unpublished works and selections from her debut series Hot Days in Camp Hansen (1982), photographed in Koza City (now Okinawa City) and Kin Town between 1975 and 1977.

The images capture women working in bars around U.S. military bases in Okinawa, portrayed with vitality and freedom during a time when the political relationship between Japan, Okinawa, and the United States was even more complex than today. Ishikawa created these works as a heartfelt tribute to women who embraced youth and independence on their own terms.

Structured into five chapters with a newly written essay by the artist, the book depicts women chatting about boyfriends, heading out to work at bars, relaxing at home with their partners, spending joyful afternoons on the beach, and portraits of children - the future of Okinawa.

Photographed in the mid to late 1970s, this important early work laid the foundation for Ishikawa’s path as a photographer. While Okinawa has long been a subject of fascination for many renowned Japanese photographers - such as Shomei Tomatsu, Daido Moriyama, Nobuyoshi Araki, and Keizo Kitajima - Ishikawa stands apart as the only woman born and raised in Okinawa who has devoted her life to capturing its reality with unwavering energy.

Second edition.