This book is a collection of photographs taken by Masuyama Tazuko (1917–2006), known as the “record-keeping grandmother,” capturing the scenery of her hometown, Tokuyama Village, Gifu Prefecture.
With the belief that "if we don't record it, the village will disappear," he photographed the scenery of the village, which was destined to be submerged by the construction of the dam, as well as the memories of the people's lives and festivals, for over 20 years.
The camera he used was a Konica Pickari Konica, which he first acquired at the age of 60, and using negative film, he continued to painstakingly capture his disappearing hometown.
This is Masuyama's first photo book, taken before he left the village.
In the book's obi, photographer Kishin Shinoyama writes, "It's sad that the village will sink to the bottom of the lake. But that same sentiment has given birth to such a wonderful collection of photographs. His simple, innocent eyes made me feel the primordial power of photography."
This record, captured not by technology but by "living eyes," is a valuable book in the history of Japanese photography that quietly conveys love and prayer for lost landscapes.
[Title] Hometown: My Photo Diary of Tokuyama Village
[Publisher] Jakometei Publishing
[Date of publication] November 1, 1983 (2nd printing)
[Number of pages] 128 pages
[Size] Approx. 25.8 x 18.3 x 1.1 cm, 0.42 kg
[Format] Softcover
[Title reading] Furu Sato: My Special Yamamura Photo Journal
[Authors/Editors] Masuyama Tazuko/Author, Aoki Taro/Editor, Nakatsuka Akitoshi/Design, Ishigaki Rin/Contribution, Kushida Magoichi/Contribution
[Printing] Tsuchiya Printing/Printing, Kyowa Bookbinding/Bookbinding, High-Speed Platemaking Gifu/Platemaking, VCA/Platemaking
[ISBN] 4-88043-500-7
[Condition] Used [ 5 ] Average (slight discoloration on three sides, slight stains, large damage to obi, tears)
[Included] Separate booklet "Hometown: My Photo Diary of Tokuyama Village"
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Tazuko Masuyama (1917-2006)
Born on April 15, 1917 (Taisho 6) in Toiri, Tokuyama Village, Gifu Prefecture.
After graduating from Tokuyama Village Toiri Branch Elementary School, she studied Japanese dressmaking under her uncle, Kawaguchi Hanpei, in Gifu City. In 1936 (Showa 11), she married Masuyama Tokujiro from Tokuyama Village.
Her husband fought in the Second Sino-Japanese War and returned alive, but was called back to serve in the Imphal Campaign and went missing.
While she waited for her husband to return after the war, plans to build a dam in the village were proposed in 1957. Masuyama felt that "if the village had disappeared when her husband returned, she would not be able to explain it," so she picked up the Piccari Konica C35 EF, an easy-to-use camera even for an amateur, and began photographing the villagers' lives, smiles, flowers, trees, and the changing seasons.
Even after the village was abandoned in 1987, she continued to pursue the memories of the villagers who had relocated and continued photographing until March 7, 2006. Over her lifetime, she left behind approximately 100,000 negatives and 600 albums, recording the disappearing face of Tokuyama Village. The dam was completed in 2008, two years after her death.
His major works and exhibitions include "My Hometown: My Photo Diary of Tokuyama Village" (1983), "Notice of Moving from My Hometown" (1985), "Thank You, Tokuyama Village" (1987), "Complete Photographic Record of Tokuyama Village" (1997), "Until the Day Everything Becomes a Photograph" (IZU PHOTO MUSEUM, 2014), and "Walls & Bridges: Touching the World, Living in the World" (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, 2021).
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