Photo Sumiko - Kiyooka Petit Tomato

Kiyooka had a unique ability to make her subjects feel comfortable, resulting in photographs that feel like whispered secrets rather than staged productions. In Petit Tomato , this intimacy is the driving force of the narrative. The Aesthetic of Petit Tomato

Unlike her earlier, more text-heavy lesbian guides, Petit Tomato was an unapologetic celebration of youthful bodies. The magazine featured amateur models, often with a single name or a first name, in various states of undress. The titles of the volumes themselves were simple: "Fresh Petit Tomato 13", "Petit Tomato Vol. 22", etc.. A typical entry, such as Petit Tomato Vol. 6 from 1986, credits Kiyooka as the photographer and lists the models as "Kaoru" and "Nami". Photo Sumiko Kiyooka Petit Tomato