Portrait of J is a compelling new photobook from renowned Japanese photographer Takashi Homma, featuring 111 portraits of the Japanese people, taken between 2002 and the present. Portrait of J joins the rich tradition of socially engaged portraiture, echoing seminal works such as August Sander’s Face of Our Time, Irving Penn’s Small Trades, and, Wolfgang Tillmans’s Portraits.

What distinguishes Portrait of J is its intentional focus on ordinary individuals photographed with the same care and reverence often reserved for cultural icons. Shot across a variety of familiar, recognisable locations, mainly in urban environments, Homma’s portraits have an illuminating quality that reveal a psychological depth in their subjects. His portraits are guided by empathy and a desire to observe people as they are – free from manipulation or staging. The result is a more inclusive, nuanced visual representation of Japanese identity – expanding the lens through which Japanese people are seen both within Japan and internationally. While Japan has long fascinated audiences in the U.S., Europe, and beyond – often admired for its aesthetics, traditions, and technological innovation – the lived realities of its people are often idealised, misunderstood, or overlooked. Portrait of J is especially meaningful in that it offers a platform for a Japanese photographer to speak directly, intentionally, and reflectively through his work – presenting a grounded and authentic portrait of contemporary Japan.