Raika Dōmei
Encyclopedia
is a group of three Japanese photographers and their associates who have worked together on exhibitions and books since 1992.
, and the photographer Yutaka Takanashi
met at the opening party of an exhibition by the singer Anri Sugano and found that they had happened to bring along a Leica M3, M2 and M4 respectively. They found that they shared an enjoyment of mechanical cameras and also enjoyed walking around the streets taking photographs together. From that time until the present (2009) they have walked around Nagoya, Hakata
, Paris
, Mie
, and Tokyo
; and have exhibited and published the results.
Planned next are photographs of Kurashiki
(Okayama
).
The three have said that they hope their photography preserves the individuality of the photographer, and that it will appeal not just to enthusiasts of Leica and other mechanical cameras but rather to all.
Akasegawa has published an essay, "Raika Dōmei", about the group.
The three have no rigid allegiance to the Leica brand or even avoidance of electronics: each photograph in the book Tokyo Kaleidoscope, for example, is annotated with a mention of the camera and lens used; the photographs by Akasegawa use a variety of cameras (including the Contax G2
), and many of those by Takanashi use a Hexar RF
.
History and concept
In 1992, the artist, novelist and old-camera enthusiast Genpei Akasegawa, the artist Yūtokutaishi AkiyamaYūtokutaishi Akiyama
is a Japanese engraver artist, photographer, and occasional politician.Born 1935 in Tokyo, Akiyama studied engraving at Musashino Art School, the predecessor of Musashino Art University, and then worked as an industrial designer for an electrical company...
, and the photographer Yutaka Takanashi
Yutaka Takanashi
is a Japanese photographer who has photographed fashion, urban design, and city life, and is best known for his depiction of Tokyo.-Life and career:...
met at the opening party of an exhibition by the singer Anri Sugano and found that they had happened to bring along a Leica M3, M2 and M4 respectively. They found that they shared an enjoyment of mechanical cameras and also enjoyed walking around the streets taking photographs together. From that time until the present (2009) they have walked around Nagoya, Hakata
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is best known as the location of Fukuoka's main train station, Hakata Station.-Geography:...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Mie
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
, and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
; and have exhibited and published the results.
Planned next are photographs of Kurashiki
Kurashiki, Okayama
is a historic city located to the west of Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea.As of April 2010, the city has a population of 473,392. The total area is .-History:...
(Okayama
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
).
The three have said that they hope their photography preserves the individuality of the photographer, and that it will appeal not just to enthusiasts of Leica and other mechanical cameras but rather to all.
Akasegawa has published an essay, "Raika Dōmei", about the group.
The three have no rigid allegiance to the Leica brand or even avoidance of electronics: each photograph in the book Tokyo Kaleidoscope, for example, is annotated with a mention of the camera and lens used; the photographs by Akasegawa use a variety of cameras (including the Contax G2
Contax G
The Contax G1 and Contax G2 are interchangeable-lens cameras sold by Kyocera under the Contax brand in competition with the Leica M7, Voigtlander Bessa R, and Konica Hexar RF. The G1 was introduced in 1994 with the G2 joining it in 1996...
), and many of those by Takanashi use a Hexar RF
Hexar RF
The Konica Hexar RF was a 35 mm rangefinder camera sold by Konica. Itwas introduced to the market on 13 October 1999. and subsequently discontinued some time before the end of 2003...
.
Exhibitions
All the exhibitions listed here were by the three photographers as a group.- "Raika Dōmei happyōkai" . Bokushin Garō (Tokyo), 1994.
- "Nagoya o toru" . Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo UniversityChukyo Universityis a private university in Aichi, Japan, with campuses in Nagoya and Toyota.-External links:*...
(Nagoya), June–July 1996. - "Honchō yorigasumi" . Konica Plaza (Tokyo), 1996.
- "Sanjūshi . Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo University (Nagoya), June–July 1998.
- "Kyū-Kyōbashi-ku Raika-chō-ten" . Inax Gallery 2 (KyōbashiKyobashiis the name of a bridge as well as the geographical region around it. Two regions with this name exist in Japan, one is in Tokyo and one lies in Osaka. It refers to a bridge connecting roads to the capital in castle towns.-Tokyo:...
, Tokyo), January 1999. - "Pari kaihō" . Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo University (Nagoya), April 2000.
- "Hakata raishū" . Mitsubishi Jisho Artium (FukuokaFukuokaFukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
), February–March 2001. - "Tōkyō kareidosukōpu" . Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo University (Nagoya), September–October 2002.
- "Ra-haikai Tōkyō-hen" . Library gallery, Musashino Art UniversityMusashino Art Universityis a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929.Teikoku Art School was founded in 1929; in 1948 it became Musashino Art School , and in 1962 it became Musashino Art University...
(KodairaKodaira, TokyoKodaira redirects here. For the mathematician, see Kunihiko Kodaira. is a city located in the western region of Tokyo, Japan.The city has an estimated population of 180,049 with 82,179 households and a population density of 8,800.05 persons per km² as of July 1, 2011...
, Tokyo), June–July 2003. - "Ra-haikai etosetora" . Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo University (Nagoya), October–November 2004.
- "Endoresu Nagoya" . Art Gallery C-Square, Chukyo University (Nagoya), September–October 2006.
- "Hakata yamamori" . Gallery-58 (Ginza, Tokyo), March 2007.
Akasegawa's essay
- Katsuhiko Otsuji . Raika Dōmei . Tokyo: Kōdansha, 1994. ISBN 4-06-207215-7. The title piece of what's billed as a collection of shōsetsu (stories) is about the Dōmei.
- Genpei Akasegawa. Raika Dōmei . Chikuma Bunko. Tokyo: Chikuma Shobō, 1999. ISBN 4-480-03481-1. A bunkobonBunkobonIn Japan, bunkobon are small-format paperback books, designed to be affordable and portable.The great majority of bunkobon are A6 in size...
reprint, this time attributed to the author's better known pseudonym.
Books by the Dōmei
All the books listed below are by the three photographers as a group.- Raika Dōmei: Nagoya shageki! （). Nagoya: Fūbaisha, 1996. ISBN 4-8331-3088-2. Photographs of Nagoya.
- Raika Dōmei: Pari kaihō . Tokyo: Alpha-beta, 2001. ISBN 4-87198-473-7. Photographs of ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. - Tōkyō kareidosukōpu: Raika Dōmei / Tokyo Kaleidoscope. Tokyo: Alpha-beta, 2002. ISBN 4-87198-530-X. Photographs of TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
External links
- Raika Dōmei, the official website