Description: Osaka: Seibundo, 1943. First Edition, quarto size. Book of photographs on the Musashino countryside, its village life, culture and temples. Edited by Shinzo Fukuhara with an introduction by notable Japanese scholar and folklorist Kuniyo Yanagida. Featured in this book are artistic images taken by Fukuhara and his contemporaries: Tadashi Murabayashi (a Fukuhara protégé), Hachiemon Kawai, Shiro Sawabe and Minoru Minami, all ranking members of the Nihon Shashin-kai (Japan Photographic Society). This is Fukuhara’s last book before he passed away in 1948. Also worth noting, this book was produced during World War II and is in stark contrast to that period of Japan history.

Condition: contents of the book is very clean with plain green boards. Slipcase is worn with the spine side of the slipcase distressed (see below).

Shinzo Fukuhara and his Contemporaries:

Shinzo Fukuhara was a photographic pioneer who's considered the father of Japanese modern art photography. Publishing seven books and over 100 articles in his lifetime, the wealthy Fukuhara was also a patron of all the arts and supported young and aspiring artists as well as founding the Nihon Shashin-kai or Japan Photographic Society (JPS) in 1924. According to Shiseido, the cosmetic company he built with his family and was President of, Fukuhara's concepts on art formed the basis of "Shiseido Style", one of the companies’ most enduring legacies.