VIVO agency (July 1959-June 1961), Japanese photographer- managed agency, based in the Ginza district of Tokyo, created by Shomei Tomatsu, Eikoh Hosoe, Ikko Narahara, Kikuji Kawada, Akira Sato, and Akira Tanno, who had participated in Tatsuo Fukushima's Eyes of Ten exhibition. They shared studio space and pushed forward the boundaries of art and documentary photography, developing a modern, uniquely Japanese style. Deep blacks, high-contrast images, and unusual camera angles typified their work. At a highly charged moment in Japanese history their subject matter—whether nudes, political rallies, or the city of Nagasaki—reflected their conflicting feelings towards the Western influences pouring into the country; each photographer in his own way conveyed his political and personal defiance. Although VIVO was short-lived, its influence was extensive and drew Daido Moriyama to Tokyo, amongst others.
— Madeleine Hill Vedel
