The release challenged the stigma that nude photography was only for "fading" stars. Miyazawa's decision was seen by many as an act of empowerment and career control.
Here is the deep story behind , starring Rie Miyazawa and photographed by Kishin Shinoyama.
Today, Santa Fe is viewed as a masterpiece of 20th-century photography. It represents a collision of cultures (Japan and the American West), a collision of life stages (girlhood and womanhood), and the power of an image to define a generation. It remains the gold standard against which all other celebrity photobooks in Japan are measured.
At the center of Japan's popular consciousness was the 18-year-old Rie Miyazawa. A fiercely popular teen idol, model, and actress, Miyazawa possessed a uniquely magnetic public image. When it was announced that she would be releasing a full-frontal nude photo collection, the news sent shockwaves through the public, pushing her name recognition to nearly 100 percent in a matter of weeks.
Santa Fe: Rie Miyazawa Photo Collection Filmed by Kishin Shinoyama [Used - Fine] [Softcover] AbeBooks.com Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
The visual success of Santa Fe rests on the profound creative partnership between Miyazawa and photographer Kishin Shinoyama . Renowned for his ability to perfectly capture post-war Japanese cultural shifts, Shinoyama chose the sun-drenched, rustic, and stark desert landscape of as the backdrop.
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The astronomical success of Santa Fe relied heavily on the star power and creative pedigree of the talent involved:
: Published by Asahi Press in late 1991, it became a runaway sensation, eventually selling over 1.5 million copies .
At 18 years old, Miyazawa was already a household name—a beloved actress, singer, and teenage icon. Her decision to pose nude was shocking to the public, as she had previously cultivated a "girl-next-door" image.
