Wind

A photobook by Yasuji Yaguchi. This book compiles the works of the photographer who passed away suddenly in 1976 at the age of 43, posthumously gathered by his peers.

Yasuji Yaguchi was born in Tokushima Prefecture in 1933. His main profession was construction, and he began photography at the age of 39. He participated in the Narutobinboke Club, the Narutobranch of the All-Japan Photographic Federation, and the Tokushima branch of the Japan Realist Photographers Group, and, while interacting with people like Shinzo Ei and Bon Fujii, he took an immense number of photographs in just a few years.

This book is a photobook published at the suggestion of his photographer friends after Yaguchi's death. Shinzo Ei, Koji Hashimoto, and Yoichi Kamiyama were involved in the editing and production, and it contains 108 selected works from approximately 30,000 photographs. It is mainly composed of works presented at solo exhibitions and the "Shiten" exhibition, such as "Kaze (Wind)," "Ai Yashiki (Indigo Mansion)," and "Kizuato (Scars)."

Deep respect for Ken Domon, the lineage of realist photography, and a gaze towards the land and people of Tokushima. Added to this is Yaguchi's unique ability to see structure, honed through his work in construction, and a keen responsiveness to natural light, the shapes of objects, and the nuances of daily life. While being documentary, the photographs are somehow formative, and at times appear like psychological landscapes.

At the end of the book, it includes "Yasuji Yaguchi and the Yoshino River" by Tomomi Ito, "Naked Eye and Beginner's Mind" by Bon Fujii, a postscript by Shinzo Ei, and a photographic chronology. It is a book that preserves the figure of a photographer who, in a short but intensely concentrated period of activity, left his mark.

[Title] Kaze (Wind)
[Publisher] Gendai Shashin Kenkyujo (Contemporary Photography Research Institute)
[Publication Date] June 23, 1977
[Number of Pages] 136 pages
[Size] Approximately 264 x 217 x 18 mm / 980g
[Format] Hardcover
[Language] Japanese
[Title Reading] KAZE
[Author/Editor, etc.] Yasuji Yaguchi/Author, Shinzo Ei/Editor & Producer, Koji Hashimoto/Producer, Yoichi Kamiyama/Producer, Tomomi Ito/Text, Bon Fujii/Text, Masahito Fukushima/Text, Fumiaki Abe/Text, Shoichi Yoshinari/Text
[Printing] Koyo Insatsu/Printing
[ISBN] -
[Condition] Used【4】Good (Cover: sunned, slightly torn, stained; Body: edges stained, several pages from endpaper stained)
[Accessories] Missing slipcase
[Featured In] -
[Related Exhibitions] -

Yasuji Yaguchi (YAGUCHI Yasuji) 1933-1976

Born in Aizumi-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima Prefecture. Photographer.

His main profession was construction. In 1972, at the age of 39, he started photography. He joined the Narutobinboke Club, the Narutobranch of the All-Japan Photographic Federation, and the Tokushima branch of the Japan Realist Photographers Group, and created works based in Tokushima.

In 1973, he held his first solo exhibition, "Yasuji Yaguchi Photo Exhibition," at Kobanya Gallery in Tokushima City. In 1974, he exhibited "Kaze (Wind)" at the 1st JRP Newcomer Selection Exhibition. In 1975, he held his second solo exhibition, "Kizuato (Scars)." In 1976, "Ai Yashiki (Indigo Mansion)" received an Encouragement Award at the 1st "Shiten" Exhibition, and he received a Special Award from JRP for his consistent creative activities.

On June 23, 1976, he passed away due to a stroke at the age of 43.

After his death, the photobook "Kaze" was published with the production by Shinzo Ei, Koji Hashimoto, Yoichi Kamiyama, and others.

Major works include "Kaze," "Ai Yashiki," "Kizuato," etc.

Major awards include the Encouragement Award at the 1st "Shiten" Exhibition, and the JRP Special Award, etc.

Major Collections -

< Related Figures >

Yasuji Yaguchi, Shinzo Ei, Koji Hashimoto, Yoichi Kamiyama, Tomomi Ito, Bon Fujii, Masahito Fukushima, Fumiaki Abe, Shoichi Yoshinari, Ken Domon, Japan Realist Photographers Group, Gendai Shashin Kenkyujo (Contemporary Photography Research Institute), Koyo Insatsu