From Okinawa with Love

For the first curated night with Fotomuseum Den Haag, Flora screens this beautiful Japanese documentary. 

From Okinawa with Love tells the story of Okinawan photographer Ishikawa Mao, who, in her early twenties, worked as a barmaid in venues catering specifically to African American soldiers stationed in Okinawa. Armed with her camera, she captured her surroundings and published three photobooks, beginning with Hot Days in Camp Hansen (1982).
This book features intimate portraits of friends and lovers—mainly Okinawan bar girls and their Black American partners, shown in relaxed, intertwined poses.

Reflecting on these images and on Okinawa after its return to Japan in 1972 following U.S. rule, Mao offers a deeply personal and evocative perspective on her life as a photographer. The film takes us on a journey through her work, her memories, and the social dynamics of a unique moment in history.

Japenese and English spoken, English subtitles.