YAMAZAKI TSUTOMU
August 1994
The Japanese star had had a long and illustrious career , dating back to the 60s. His star had risen in the 80s with a string of successful movies that had reached international audiences including Kagemusha, The Funeral and Tampopo … in the process working with seminal directors such as Kurasawa and Itami.
I travelled with the journalist down to Yamazaki-san's house in the exclusive Kamakura district south of Yokohama. He had a beautiful modern home, a sleek design featuring off-form concrete. We sat outside for the interview, shaded from the sun in his spacious garden and had Japanese tea. Following the interview I shot his portrait, outside in the garden. He was very gracious and courteous and a chain smoker. Most of the photos I took had him smoking.