Beginning in the late 1950s, Tomatsu visited as many American military bases in Japan as possible, and captured the impact of the American victory and occupation through his lens. First named Occupation, this body of work was later retitled Chewing Gum and Chocolate to reflect the handouts given to Japanese kids by the soldiers—sugary and addictive, but ultimately lacking in nutritional value. In Tokyo (1960), a blurred figure emerging from within the darkness emphasizes the presence of the signboards of American products.
