Reddit reviews Ba-ra-kei: Ordeal by Roses

Speaking of Mishima and porn - he did make some soft-core.

It's a quote-unquote 'art photo book' called 'Ordeal by Roses'.

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It's weird how Mishima was the first famous gay man in Japan, and also its most flamboyant post-war fascist.

Imagine if America's first experience with gays was, like, Sherrif Joe Arpaio or Erik Prince or something.

You are probably referring to the well known photography collaboration by Eiko Hosoe and Mishima, Ba-ra-kei: Ordeal of the Roses. I'm (totally) guessing that it is via actually these images that Yamamoto became familiar with the St. Sebastian iconography as they are well known in Japan, at least in fine art circles.

Here is the famous image in question.