*a mystic weasle cutting things with whirlwind; the title of the legendary photobook by Eikoh Hosoe
Eikoh Hosoe’s famous work Kamaitachi was shot in Tashiro village.
The masterpiece Kamaitachi was created by the close collaboration of the photographer Eikoh Hosoe and the founder of butoh dance Tatsumi Hijikata.
Tatsumi Hijikata held his brilliant performance in Koganji temple in Sugamo, Katsushika negihboorhood in Tokyo, and on the stage of the rural landscape of Akita.
While ripples were caused by encounters with people, Hosoe’s gaze resonated with Tatsumi Hijikata’s sprinting soul and body, deepening his sensuality to the soil and the orgasm of life and death.
Here, the original landscape and memory of Japan was printed on the monochrome film.
Original book was published in 1969 by Gendai Shinchousha, a reprinted version in 2005 by Seigensha, and a renovated edition in 2009 by Seigensha with 8 unpublished works.
Introduction by Shuzo Takiguchi, essay by Donald Keene, poetry by Toyoichiro Miyoshi, contribution by Mutsuro Takahashi, book design by Ikko Tanaka; born from a collaboration of eminent figures was a photobook too famous in the world of photography and butoh dance.
Tatsumi Hijikata
1928-1986
Born in Akita city, Akita
After moving to Tokyo, he established ankoku butoh, or “the dance of the darkness”.
Having friendship with Yukio Mishima, Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, and Tadanori Yokoo, Hijikata’s butoh dance became an inspiration to a variety of figures.
“Butoh is about reencountering one’s strayed body”
Leaving such inspirational quotes, Hijikata made various works with a scent of Akita’s wind and soil.