Tokyo 1936

First Edition, 1974. 258 pages.

Book measures 7.5 x 10.5 inches. Hardcover in slipcase. Contains 172 black and white photographs printed in gravure. Most of the photographs were taken in 1936 and 1937, but the book spans 1934 through 1939, with some images from 1943. The majority of the images were taken in the Asakusa and Ueno districts, the semi-industrial part of Tokyo. The book’s color scheme, typeface and layout evoke movie posters of that era. This nostalgia is reason for the broad, overwhelming, and enduring poplar response to this book, and its influence on contemporary photographers. This book came about and was published from research conducted for the 1968 exhibition Shashin Hyakunen, 1845–1945 (100 years of Japanese Photography). Kuwabara was rediscovered at this time by a panel involved with the exhibition which included noted photographers Hiroshi Hamaya, Shomei Tomatsu, and Takuma Nakahira. The format of this book mixes the feel of a family photo album with that of a photobook. The first half of the book is comprised of photographs many of which are street scenes, while the second contains numerous snapshots of people who paused to be photographed on the street. Kuwabara includes general annotations about places and contexts of the photographs. (Historical information from Japanese Photobooks of the 1960s and 70s)

Book is Near Fine condition in square tight binding. Cardboard slipcase is Very Good, showing light wear and faint foxing.