Behind The Mask
by Chris Mosdell with photographs by Ryo Ohwada
Based on the song originally composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Chris Mosdell, and recording by Michael Jackson and Eric Clapton, Chris delved beneath the outward facade of the classic Noh mask to illuminate a hundred encounters that his decades-stay in Japan has uncovered. He writes: “I’ve come to understand the mask cradles all my infinite experiences––the cultural collectiveness, the traditions, superstitions, historic tales, sensuosities, and the most startling impressions imaginable”
“The whole nation is encapsulated here––a temple bell struck by silence, a boy playing Final Fantasy, a lotus-viewing boat drifting through reflected stars. It is here where I’ve walked on carpets of moss in secluded gardens, watched carp draw mystic symbols as they glide through their pools, and stood immersed in countless electrifying evenings in the city of Tokyo, imbibing the unique forces that invigorate me.”
With full colour photographs by the photographer Ryo Ohwada, a bilingual edition translated by Ryoichi Ito and designed by the famed designer HeyQuicci Harata, this is an exceptional publication.
Published by SLOGAN / スローガン, 2023
“The startling multifaceted vision of what truly lies “Behind the Mask” in both its traditional and modern context.”
— Eiichi Yoshimura
"Endless inspiration . . . Chris Mosdell's lyrics reimagined by famous musicians through the decades shine anew in a multimedia mosaic . . . a myriad of observations . . . pages textual and visual treats . . . a beautiful book."
— Tokyo Weekender
