Gankotoshi was one of the last projects Japanese photographer Issei Suda worked on before his death in March 2019. Every photograph in the book features eyes in some form. Suda reportedly kept making street snapshots containing eyes, whether in illustrations, photographs, markings or reflections, without noticing them until he saw the prints. He contacted publisher Akio Nagasawa about bringing these photographs, taken over many years, together in a book.
 
 
 
“Soon afterwards, when Mr Suda had finished selecting the photographs, he contacted me again and asked to meet. However, the day before our scheduled meeting, he suddenly passed away […]
 
Needless to say, the photographs were brilliant, and everything, from the editorial concept to the paper, printing technique, cover design and overall atmosphere, immediately fell into place in my mind.”
 
 
 
From Akio Nagasawa's afterword.