Oyako is the Japanese word for parent and child. The series started as a way of looking at Japanese culture and the changes from one generation to the next. In the process of photographing thousands of Oyako, it has become my lifelong project. In 2003, Bruce and Yoshiko Osborn created Oyako Day which is celebrated on the 4th Sunday of July. Oyako Interview is an ongoing column in Mainichi Newspaper featuring Bruce’s portraits of well-known parents and children.
The Japanese word oyako is a combination of the characters for parent and child. It is unique in that it combines the parent and child into one unit, stressing the group rather than the individual, and reflecting the vertical link between generations. The parent is the link to the past; the child, a bridge to the future.
A documentary film about Japanese parents and children featuring a former American punk photographer’s assimilation into their society, interviews with cultural spokespeople, post-disaster visits to Tohoku, and a short drama featuring real-life people.
The Japanese word oyako is a combination of the characters for parent and child. It is unique in that it combines the parent and child into one unit, stressing the group rather than the individual, and reflecting the vertical link between generations. The parent is the link to the past; the child, a bridge to the future.
A documentary film about Japanese parents and children featuring a former American punk photographer’s assimilation into their society, interviews with cultural spokespeople, post-disaster visits to Tohoku, and a short drama featuring real-life people.
The 3.11 earthquake and tsunami destroyed homes, took loved ones, and left many with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. I hope these family photos will serve as a reminder for them and to everyone how people and communities might support each other to overcome their difficulties and move forward.
OYAKO FOREVER
A documentary that was taken in Tohoku following The Great East Japan Earthquake. This program focuses on families that I meet and photograph there. It was aired on NHK World marking the 1 year memorial since the disaster.
OYAKO FOREVER
A documentary that was taken in Tohoku following The Great East Japan Earthquake. This program focuses on families that I meet and photograph there. It was aired on NHK World marking the 1 year memorial since the disaster.