FEATURE:
Under My Skin
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in Japan in June 1978/PHOTO CREDIT: Koh Hasebe (Shinko Music/Getty Images)
Kate Bush in Japan, June 1978: The Iconic Koh Hasebe Shot
_________
YOU can see the actual…
PHOTO CREDIT: Koh Hasebe (Shinko Music/Getty Images)
photo here of Kate Bush in Japan back in 1978. It is one that is hugely significant to me. The shot was taken by Koh Hasebe when Bush visited there in June of that year. Only four months after her debut album, The Kick Inside, was released into the world, Bush was in a new country with a very different way of life. Not used to something that was a culture clash compared to the U.S., I wanted to revisit this period for one reason. I have a couple of Kate Bush tattoos already, but they are both lyrics – from two songs on The Kick Inside. I wanted something of her face. It was a hard decision to make but, looking through some iconic early shots of her, I was struck by the photos in Japan. Dressed quite casually, Hasebe captured this teenage artists quite relaxed but curious. Even though she is smiling in some of the photos, it is the ones of her looking more pensive and mysterious that moved me. You can see another article, where the image is front and centre. There is something about the shot of her looking on with flowers in the foreground that is especially beautiful and striking. Other than it being a fantastic composition, that photo is taken half-way through one of her busiest years. In fact, apart from maybe 1985, Bush was not to experience a year quite as hectic as 1978! It was a dizzying time where she went around the world promoting her album and performing. Still new to the music industry, it was an exciting, confusing and packed year where she went to new places and really hit the ground running!
EMI, with their new prodigy having already had a number one single (Wuthering Heights) and a debut album that was a chart success, were keen to show her off and see if she could conquer the globe. Bush had released Moving in Japan in February, 1978. Them Heavy People was released in Japan in May 1978. Gaining hype and momentum there, she went on this trip that saw her perform at a music festival, film her one and only advert (for Seiki watches), sing songs by The Beatles, and be met with huge acclaim from a loving audience. Maybe there was some slight cultural appropriate from Bush when in Japan – such as the outfits and looks in general. You can read more about that trip in this article. I love the fact that she was popular in Japan. In fact, Moving reached number one there. Them Heavy People went to number three. It was only to be expected she would visit Japan. I am not sure how much time she had to relax and explore the country. It was important that she promoted her music whilst there. Even if the itinerary was a bit strange, perhaps it was a hard country to crack. In terms of interviews, there would not be many interviewers who spoke good English. No music shows like we had in the U.K. Trying to break through language and cultural borders, something about Moving and Them Heavy People resonated with audiences in Japan. Both quite spiritual and beautiful songs, I am not sure whether Wuthering Heights would have been as successful there – even if Japan is known for being a bit strange and bold.
Another reason for doing this feature is to get people to think more deeply about Kate Bush. There will be fans that want a tattoo of her. It is always a hard choice. Maybe you go for something based on Hounds of Love (1985). You may want Kate Bush a bit later in her career. Whatever you go for, it has to mean something and be more than skin deep. Even if it is literally on your skin, the meaning and relevance of that tattoo does have to go beyond that. I love the shot I chose by Koh Hasebe as, like Gerd Mankowitz, John Carder Bush and Guido Harari, he managed to capture Kate Bush in a very deep and extraordinary pose. Whilst it may seem like an ordinary photo, there is so much interesting context. Taken during this wild and unusual trip to Japan, Bush looks thoughtful and almost sullen. I am not sure what the directions were like for Hasebe. With a limited time with her, he had to capture this range of shots that expressed different sides and moods. The one of Bush with flowers in the foreground is compelling and arresting. With that eye shadow/mascara and long brown hair, it is a stunning look! I was intrigued by her pose and what she might have been thinking when the photo was taken. More than anything, it captures Bush at a pivotal moment. She was thrust into the world and hitting the scene hard. EMI were hardly allowing her time to breathe. June 1978 was in the middle of a busy time. The previous month, she took her first promotional trip to the U.S. By July, she was in France to start recording of her second studio album. It was a mad and whirlwind time. I can only imagine what it was like when she was in Japan. Exciting in many ways, there must have been a feeling and longing for home. Excited to make her second album, she was not given too much time to write new material. I do think about that and how that made her feel. Both beautiful and stirring, that Koh Hasebe shot of Kate Bush in Japan looking on really compelled me. It is truly a remarkable and…
MEMORABLE photo.