shashasha

These photographs of butoh dancer Tatsumi Hijikata, published in 1969 as “Kamaitachi” (Gendai Shicho), earned photographer Eikoh Hosoe the 20th Award from the Ministry of Education in the Art Encouragement Prizes and Medal with Purple Ribbon.
His work, reprinted as facsimile in 2005, then as popular edition 2009 (both times by Seigensha), is a highly regarded contribution to the world’s photography history.
This edition is based on the “Tashiro Edition”, based on editing by the Kamaitachi Art Museum in Tashiro in Japan’s Akita prefecture, and consists of 17 photographs, plus unpublished photos from Tokyo and Tsukuba, a preface by Shuzo Takiguchi (in Japanese), a poster by Tadanori Yoko, and commentary by Takashi Morishita (in Japanese).
In order to preserve valuable photographs, to remember the existence of butoh dancer Tatsumi Hijikata and the scenery of their countryside for future generations, the Kamaitachi Art Museum held an exhibition in October 2016. Published in commemoration of said exhibition, this photobook asks, how is the legacy of Tatsumi Hijikata going to be affected?
A book in which the presence of the butoh dance of Japan and of the world manifests itself.

— from the publisher’s statement (translation by shashasha)