Tatsuo Kondo Photo Albums: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Sentimentalism of Kohoku, Life in Shima (Signed)

Kondo Tatsuo's first photo book. This book contains monochrome works photographed along the Sea of Japan coast, Hida Takayama, Kohoku, and Shima.

Kondo Tatsuo was a photographer born in Nagoya who moved to Gifu after marriage, where he continued his photography while running a photographic supplies store. This book contains four chapters: "Seasons of the Sea of Japan," "Hida Takayama," "Kohoku Sentiments," and "Life in Shima." Coastal towns, mountainous regions, lakeside landscapes, and fishing village life. The lingering signs of life in various places, the expressions of the people, and the atmosphere of cloudy skies are quietly captured.

At the beginning, under "In Lieu of an Introduction," are words by Hiroshi Hamaya, with whom Kondo was close. Hamaya described Kondo as a person with eyes that always seemed to be thinking about photography, and he characterized that gaze as "sharp and scrutinizing." He also noted that Kondo's photographs preferred shadow over light, darkness over brightness, and cloudy or rainy weather over clear skies, expressing a uniquely Japanese sensibility.

Since photographing Hida Takayama in 1948, Kondo continued his travels to Takayama, Kohoku, Echizen, Hokuriku, Niigata, Tsugaru, and Shimokita. While heading to the northern lands, different from the climate where he was born and lived, he found his desired Japan there. The photographs included in this book were selected from those taken over 22 years, from 1950 to 1971.

The commentary includes not only episodes from the time of shooting and feelings for the locations, but also preceding and following cuts. The composition, which allows one to trace the movement of the gaze and the changes in feelings during shooting before a single photograph is chosen, is also interesting.

Festivals, townscapes, coastal labor, the feel of snow and rain. Not grand events, but the time flowing within life rooted in the land is fixed in subdued monochrome tones. This collection captures Japanese rural landscapes and people's lives in quiet shades.

[Title] Kondo Tatsuo Photo Collection: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Kohoku Sentiments, Life in Shima
[Publisher] Nippon Camera-sha
[Publication Date] March 15, 1972
[Page Count] 149 pages (70 monochrome photos)
[Size] Approx. 213*298*14mm / 720g
[Format] Softcover
[Language] Japanese
[Title Reading] KONDOU TATSUO SHASHINSHUU NIHONKAI NO KISETSU HIDA NO TAKAYAMA KOHOKU JOJOU SHIMA NO KURASHI
[Author/Editor] Kondo Tatsuo / Photos and Text, Hamaya Hiroshi / Foreword
[Printing] Toppan Printing / Printing
[ISBN] -
[Condition] Used [5] Good (Vinyl cover: adhered to cover due to age-related deterioration, minor damage; Body: minor foxing on edges, age-related yellowing)
[Accessories] Original vinyl cover
[Featured In] -
[Related Exhibitions] -

*The original vinyl cover has shrunk due to age and is adhered to the main body's cover. As forcibly peeling it off may damage the printed surface of the cover, it will be delivered in its current state.

Kondo Tatsuo (1916-)

Born in Nagoya. Photographer.

Moved to Gifu after marriage, and continued photography while running a photographic supplies store. First picked up a camera in his first year of junior high school, and photographed Hida Takayama in 1948. Thereafter, he traveled throughout Japan, including Takayama, Kohoku, Echizen, Hokuriku, Niigata, Tsugaru, and Shimokita, photographing the climate and people's lives in monochrome. He was also close friends with photographer Hiroshi Hamaya.

He observed the lingering signs of life in the land, cloudy skies, rain, snow, and the atmosphere that lingered after festivals, capturing a different impression of rural Japan than bright, tourist-oriented landscapes.

Major works include "Kondo Tatsuo Photo Collection: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Kohoku Sentiments, Life in Shima."

Major Awards -

Major Collections -

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