The film was shot between 1975 and 1979 on the energetic streets of Tokyo, particularly Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.
Kurata does not maintain any hesitation or distance from his subjects, but instead uses his unique style of shooting them with raw flash from close range, cutting deep into the essence of the times. The raw energy and unpredictable happenings of people living in the city at night - gangsters, biker gangs, right-wingers, cabaret hostesses, drunks - are vividly burned into the screen in strong contrast monochrome.
His fierce yet pure gaze mercilessly exposes the chaos of the city and the reality of the people living there, leaving a strong impact on the viewer. This book caused a huge sensation when it was released, and is still highly regarded today as a monumental work that had a decisive influence on Japanese street photography thereafter. It is a must-see historical masterpiece that directly conveys the heat and tension of the era.
[Title] FLSH UP / Street Photo Randam Tokyo 1975-1979 [Publisher] Byakuya Shobo [Publication date] March 1980 [Number of pages] Unpaginated [Size] Approximately 30 x 21 x 1.2 cm [Format] Softcover, transparent resin cover [Title reading] Flash Up Street Photo Random Tokyo 1975~1979 [Authors/Editors] Hiroto Fukuda/Production, Akira Suei/Design, [ISBN] [Condition] Used, average condition for its age: Used Good (slight tears on the transparent cover) [Accessories] None [Featured In] Checking [Related Exhibitions]
