Tokyo Suburbia by Takashi Homma, Signed First Edition

Tokyo Suburbia (Tokyo Kougai) by Takashi Homma  

First Edition, First Printing, 1998 

Signed by Takashi Homma 

This is a signed first edition, first printing of the critically acclaimed photobook “Tokyo Suburbia (Tokyo Kougai)” published by Korinsha Press, Tokyo in 1998. Homma Takashi is known as being emblematic of the new generation of Japanese photography. In 1998, he received the 24th Kimura Ihei Photography Award for “Tokyo Suburbia”. Parr and Badger in their reference work, “The Photobook: A History”, wrote: "Yasukazu Arai's design for this book is both unusual and opulent. The cover is made from heavy cardboard, and the inner pages are of the same material, slightly less thick, like one of those children's books designed to give a sense of substantiality and durability....This is an example of Japanese New Topographic photography, and Momoyo Kaijima duly notes its intended objectivity in his essay on Homma's work...At first glance, we can make the standard response: suburbs are soulless places...But Homma's suburbs seem also to evince more positive qualities...they seem remarkably well landscaped, luxuriant and well manicured, with little hint of the graffiti and rubbish that accompany the suburbs of the West....the tone of Homma's book is ambiguous enough to both intrigue us and keep us guessing" In his text, Takashi Homma wrote, “I realized - since childhood I've eaten at family restaurants, there was always a McDonald's drive thru, and next to my house was a large highway. On my way home, there were always girls and boys hanging out in front of the train station. What suburbia means, for me, isn't anything, not memories or stories. It's shiny buildings, disinfected plastic tables, the silky-smooth skin of girls or dark places of violence. The whole of these basic things, which is obvious, is that spreading within one scene is its reality.” 

Containing 60 color photographs printed on thick card stock and measuring approximately 11.25” x 8.5”, the book is bound in photographically illustrated laminated paper-covered boards with the title printed in black and white on the cover and spine; no dust jacket as issued. Inlaid on the inside cover is a descriptive pamphlet (in English and Japanese) about the artist and the book as well as maps of the locations of the pictures contained in the book. The book is in Near Fine+ condition with light cover and edge wear.

The book has been boldly signed by Takashi Homma.

Cited in the photobook reference work “The Photobook: A History” by Parr & Badger.

Photographs of the book cover, the pamphlet, signature treatments, as well as images contained in the book appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the picture is viewable.