Japanese Sushi Girls: Hebrew Edition
Hedva Rokach
$30
$21
Availability: In Stock
Japanese Sushi Girls is a narrative art photography book by Hedva Rokach, featuring 37 photographs that document an act of civilian solidarity during wartime.
Photographed in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th, 2023 attacks and the onset of the Gaza war, the project centers on six Japanese women living in Israel who prepared sushi for vegetarian and vegan soldiers. The images capture quiet moments of care, resilience, and cross-cultural empathy in a time of national crisis.
Photographed without staging, using natural light and real-life environments, the series preserves the authenticity and emotional depth of the moment. The project has been exhibited in solo shows at the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa (2024) and the Maine Jewish Museum in the United States (2025).
Hebrew, Softcover, 40 pages, 37 images, 21X14.8 cm, 8.2X5.8 in, 0.11 kg, 0.23 lbs, First Edition, 2025, ISBN/Code IB-001-01-01-25-H
Rokach’s photography reveals intimate moments of women finding stillness within chaos.
— Ravit Danon, “On October 7, six Japanese women volunteered to prepare what they do best for the soldiers — food”, Haaretz, October 7, 2024
About the Book
Japanese Sushi Girls documents a quiet yet powerful human response to a national crisis. Instead of focusing on combat or destruction, the book highlights an intimate civilian act: cooking as a gesture of belonging, personal agency, and solidarity.
The six Japanese women featured in the project married Israelis, built their lives in Israel, and chose to stay during the war despite official evacuation options. Their decision reflects commitment, resilience, and cross-cultural connection.
Photographed without staging and using only natural light, the series captures movement, cooperation, and everyday ritual inside a small kitchen transformed into a meaningful social and cultural space. The book offers a visual resource for exploring art created in times of crisis, cross-cultural solidarity, migration, and contemporary narrative documentary photography.
About the Artist
Hedva Rokach is an Israeli art photographer specializing in narrative documentary work. She captures authentic moments without directing her subjects, using natural light and real-life environments. Her work has been featured in solo museum exhibitions in Israel, the United States, and Georgia. Rokach has published multiple art books, received international awards in London, Paris, Tokyo, and Budapest, and her photographs are held in both private and public collections worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japanese Sushi Girls?
A narrative art photography book documenting a civilian act of solidarity during wartime.
Who are the subjects?
Six Japanese women living in Israel.
What do the photographs show?
The preparation of sushi for vegetarian and vegan soldiers.
What defines the photographic approach?
Unstaged moments, natural light, and real-life environments.
Where has the work been exhibited?
At the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art (Haifa) and the Maine Jewish Museum (USA).
Key Topics
Art created in times of war
Civilian acts of solidarity
Migration, identity, and belonging
Women and collective action
Food as a form of cultural expression
Narrative documentary photography
Cross-cultural connection
