Hirashima Akihiko — Tokyo Labyrinth
(Web exhibition / By appointment only)

Nov. 6 [Fri.] ― Nov. 28 [Sat.] 2020 11:00-19:00
Gallery closed on Sunday, Monday, and national holidays.
*For an appointment, please e-mail or call us before your visit.

To view web exhibition movie, please click the play icon on the center of movie below.

Gallery Talk - HIRASHIMA Akihiko / OTAKE Akiko (Japanese only)

Movie production: Web Magazine Colla:J SHIONO Tetsuya


*Click images to view in original size.

Watanuki Ltd. is publishing "Tokyo Labyrinth", a portfolio by photographer HIRASHIMA Akihiko.

The portfolio includes 15 monochrome new prints chosen by a supervisor OTAKE Akiko from “A Map of Tokyo, Showa 20 (1945)” (Photo: HIRASHIMA Akihiko, Text: NISHII Kazuo, Chikuma Shobo, 1986).

“A Map of Tokyo, Showa 20 (1945)” was was created after HIRASHIMA showed his copy of “Areas Destroyed by Firebomb - Concise Tokyo: 35 Ward Atlas” (Nichiji Shuppan, 1985) to NISHII Kazuo, whom it inspired to come up with a serial column published in "Mainichi Graph". HIRASHIMA and NISHII walked around Tokyo from September to November of 1985 (and also between January and February of 1986 for reshoots) to create this series, which was eventually published as a book.

Watanuki Ltd. will host this photo exhibition to go along with publication of HIRASHIMA Akihiko Portfolio

Mr. HIRASHIMA will be at the gallery on the following days：(open to change)
11/06（Fri）12:00～17:00
11/07（Sat）12:00～17:00
11/13（Fri）12:00～17:00
11/14（Sat）12:00～17:00
11/20（Fri）12:00～17:00
11/21（Sat）12:00～17:00
11/27（Fri）12:00～17:00
11/28（Sat）12:00～17:00

— — — — —

A favourite phrase that I always find myself saying is "The past is always new, the future always nostalgic" - a phrase that perfectly describes HIRASHIMA's 15 photos. Across all time and culture, the innumerable photographs that have been taken by photographers around the world remain a valuable record of human history - owed in fact to the reality that each shutter pressed by each single person is so inextricably supported by some "something".

(MORIYAMA Daido — from leaflet of portfolio "Tokyo Labyrinth")

Hirashima Akihiko Portfolio “TOKYO LABYRINTH” Set of 15 priginal prints Each print edition numbered and signed by the photographer
Photographer:	HIRASHIMA Akihiko
Supervisor:	OTAKE Akiko
Photographed:	1985/9 - 1986/2
Printed:	2020
Printed by:	GINYUDO · HIDAI Kazuyoshi
Medium:	Gelatin silver print
Sheet:	Baryta paper
Sheet size:	25.4×30.2cm
Edition:	10
Release date:	2020/10/30
Publisher:	Watanuki Ltd. \| Toki-no-Wasuremono

■HIRASHIMA Akihiko (b. 1946)
Born 19469 in Tateyama City, Chiba. Entered Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics in 1965, and joined the photography club.
In 1969, joined Mainichi Shimbun, and was assigned to the Western Head Office Photography Division. In 1974, moved to the Tokyo Headquarters Publishing Photography Department and was in charge of photo coverage for weekly magazines such as “Mainichi Graph”, “Sunday Mainichi”, and “Economist”.
Co-authored "A Map of Tokyo 1945" (text by NISHII Kazuo, photo by HIRASHIMA Akihiko, 1986, Chikuma Shobo), and in 1987, published "A Map of Tokyo 1945 Continued". In 1988, held "Akihiko Hirashima Photo Exhibition - Tatazumu Machi" at the Setagaya Museum of Art, with photographs included in two books mentioned. (Works were added to the museum’s collection and later exhibited at "Unacera di Tokyo" exhibition (2005) and "TokyoScape into the City" exhibition (2018)). Moved to the publishing production department in 1996, and to the visual editing room in 1999. Co-authored “City Resume: Walking in Kanda” (text by MORI Mayumi, photo by HIRASHIMA Akihiko, 2003, Mainichi Shimbun).
He is also the editor of the book "Tsuneichi Miyamoto Photographs and Diaries" (MIYAMOTO Tsuneichi, Volume 1, 2 and extra, 2005). For this book, awarded "The 17th Photo Award" (2005).
Also edited, "Palace Side Building Story" (Mainichi Building, 2006), "Complete Record of the Great Journey" (Volume 1, 2, SEKINO Yoshiharu, 2006), "1960s Tokyo Memories of the City of Water Where Streetcars Run" (IKEDA Shin, 2008), "Showa Scenes taken by Tsuneichi Miyamoto" (MIYAMOTO Tsuneichi, Volume 1, 2, 2009). Left Mainichi Shimbun in 2009. Following books were edited after his retirement: "Miyamoto Tsuneichi Diary - Seishun Hen" (TAMURA Zenjiro Part, 2012) and "Kineo Kuwahara Photographs - Private Showa History" (Volume 1, 2, 2013). In 2011, he established “Town Walker Club” with his friends from Waseda University photography club, and continues to take pictures everywhere in Tokyo once a month. As of June 2020, they have met 100 times.

Gallery view

▲start of page

Hirashima Akihiko — Tokyo Labyrinth (Web exhibition / By appointment only)

Hirashima Akihiko — Tokyo Labyrinth
(Web exhibition / By appointment only)