Hiroo Kikai: Persona

Hiroo Onikai's Persona

This is, without a doubt, a dense and rich collection of portrait photographs. This is an expanded edition of "PERSONA," which won the Domon Ken Award and the Japan Professional Photographers Society Annual Award. Unlike typical affordable editions that are simply reduced in size or have simplified binding, this book is an expanded version, featuring 49 new photographs and essays.

The people featured are anonymous individuals from the Asakusa area, but they are all incredibly "intense" characters, and I, for one, would probably be intimidated if I met them in person. To capture such sharp portraits of people who are not "ordinary," a strong relationship of trust must first be established between the photographer and the subject.

The subjects seem to have moved beyond simply "letting their guard down" and are freely expressing themselves as they wish. Without indulging in the non-existent fantasies of "the real me," "the true self," or "the natural state," they seem to be resolutely presenting the "self they want to be." The overwhelming power of the photographs likely comes from this.

The book's production quality, including the printing, binding, and cover design, is also excellent.

Publisher: Soshisha (October 1, 2005)
Release Date: October 1, 2005
Language: Japanese
Paperback: 236 pages

Slight soiling and damage on the cover.

Please purchase only if you understand that this is a used book.