Noriaki Yokosuka - Sha / Shaft - 1972
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Noriaki Yokosuka’s Sha / Shaft, a 1st edition hardback published in 1972 by Chuo Koron Sha as volume 9 of the Eizo no Gendai series, with 120 pages in Japanese and English and the original obi, in very good condition.
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Description from the seller
Published in 1972, Sha / Shaft by Noriaki Yokosuka is volume No. 9 of the legendary Japanese photobook series *Eizo no Gendai , one of the most influential collections in the history of Japanese photography. Published by Chuo Koron Sha between 1971 and 1972, the series brought together some of the most significant photographers of the era, including Shoji Ueda, Shomei Tomatsu, Masahisa Fukase, Yasuhiro Ishimoto, and Daido Moriyama, becoming an essential reference for understanding the remarkable evolution of postwar Japanese photography.
In Sha / Shaft, Yokosuka explores the relationship between the human body, light, and space through a sophisticated visual language. Across a sequence of striking black-and-white photographs, he transforms the studio into an almost abstract stage where human figures, architectural forms, and shafts of light appear to defy gravity. Carefully orchestrated lighting creates an atmosphere of tension and mystery, while bodies assume sculptural poses that interact with shadows, walls, and geometric structures.
The book reflects Yokosuka's fascination with the expressive possibilities of light and his ability to construct images that move beyond documentary photography into a highly experimental visual realm. His masterful control of illumination turns each photograph into a meticulously balanced composition, where contrast, texture, and spatial relationships become the primary visual language.
The editorial design maintains the exceptional standards that define the entire *Eizo no Gendai* series. The thoughtful sequencing, high-quality printing, and meticulous production reinforce the almost cinematic character of the project, making **Sha / Shaft** one of the defining works of Noriaki Yokosuka's early career and an essential title in the history of the Japanese photobook.
The copy offered here is in **near-fine condition**, an exceptionally well-preserved example for a photobook published more than fifty years ago. It also retains the **original obi**, a feature that is frequently missing and significantly enhances the book's bibliographic appeal. Finding **Sha / Shaft** in such outstanding condition has become increasingly rare, making this a remarkable opportunity to acquire one of the most iconic volumes from the celebrated **Eizo no Gendai** series.
Seller's Story
Dartbooks is a specialized photography bookshop based in Barcelona, dedicated to photobooks, rare and out-of-print editions, and historically significant publications. With a strong focus on Japanese photography, Dartbooks was founded to provide continuity to a field that requires depth, expertise, and careful curation.
The bookshop was established after the closure of Kowasa, a landmark reference for photography books in Spain. Its disappearance left a clear gap for photographers, collectors, and institutions in need of a space with a serious and knowledgeable approach to the photobook. Dartbooks emerged in response to that need, not as a replacement, but as part of the natural evolution of a cultural ecosystem.
Dartbooks operates with a curatorial mindset, shaped by long-term engagement with photography and book collecting. The project functions as a book hunting platform for collectors, professionals, and libraries worldwide, and also provides advisory support to other bookshops seeking to develop coherent and specialized photography collections.
The catalogue includes new publications, rare and out-of-print titles, monographs, retrospectives, self-published works, signed copies, and editions produced directly by photographers through their own imprints. The selection reflects a sustained commitment to photography as a form of visual narration, where images construct meaning beyond text.
Although rooted in the Gràcia neighbourhood of Barcelona, Dartbooks serves an international audience. Its community includes collectors, professionals, and institutions from France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and beyond, both through the physical space and the online platform.
Dartbooks understands the photobook not merely as an object of consumption, but as a cultural artifact that documents artistic practices, historical contexts, and personal visions. The bookshop functions simultaneously as a place of discovery, an archive in constant growth, and a point of connection between photographers, publishers, and readers.
Published in 1972, Sha / Shaft by Noriaki Yokosuka is volume No. 9 of the legendary Japanese photobook series *Eizo no Gendai , one of the most influential collections in the history of Japanese photography. Published by Chuo Koron Sha between 1971 and 1972, the series brought together some of the most significant photographers of the era, including Shoji Ueda, Shomei Tomatsu, Masahisa Fukase, Yasuhiro Ishimoto, and Daido Moriyama, becoming an essential reference for understanding the remarkable evolution of postwar Japanese photography.
In Sha / Shaft, Yokosuka explores the relationship between the human body, light, and space through a sophisticated visual language. Across a sequence of striking black-and-white photographs, he transforms the studio into an almost abstract stage where human figures, architectural forms, and shafts of light appear to defy gravity. Carefully orchestrated lighting creates an atmosphere of tension and mystery, while bodies assume sculptural poses that interact with shadows, walls, and geometric structures.
The book reflects Yokosuka's fascination with the expressive possibilities of light and his ability to construct images that move beyond documentary photography into a highly experimental visual realm. His masterful control of illumination turns each photograph into a meticulously balanced composition, where contrast, texture, and spatial relationships become the primary visual language.
The editorial design maintains the exceptional standards that define the entire *Eizo no Gendai* series. The thoughtful sequencing, high-quality printing, and meticulous production reinforce the almost cinematic character of the project, making **Sha / Shaft** one of the defining works of Noriaki Yokosuka's early career and an essential title in the history of the Japanese photobook.
The copy offered here is in **near-fine condition**, an exceptionally well-preserved example for a photobook published more than fifty years ago. It also retains the **original obi**, a feature that is frequently missing and significantly enhances the book's bibliographic appeal. Finding **Sha / Shaft** in such outstanding condition has become increasingly rare, making this a remarkable opportunity to acquire one of the most iconic volumes from the celebrated **Eizo no Gendai** series.
Seller's Story
Dartbooks is a specialized photography bookshop based in Barcelona, dedicated to photobooks, rare and out-of-print editions, and historically significant publications. With a strong focus on Japanese photography, Dartbooks was founded to provide continuity to a field that requires depth, expertise, and careful curation.
The bookshop was established after the closure of Kowasa, a landmark reference for photography books in Spain. Its disappearance left a clear gap for photographers, collectors, and institutions in need of a space with a serious and knowledgeable approach to the photobook. Dartbooks emerged in response to that need, not as a replacement, but as part of the natural evolution of a cultural ecosystem.
Dartbooks operates with a curatorial mindset, shaped by long-term engagement with photography and book collecting. The project functions as a book hunting platform for collectors, professionals, and libraries worldwide, and also provides advisory support to other bookshops seeking to develop coherent and specialized photography collections.
The catalogue includes new publications, rare and out-of-print titles, monographs, retrospectives, self-published works, signed copies, and editions produced directly by photographers through their own imprints. The selection reflects a sustained commitment to photography as a form of visual narration, where images construct meaning beyond text.
Although rooted in the Gràcia neighbourhood of Barcelona, Dartbooks serves an international audience. Its community includes collectors, professionals, and institutions from France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and beyond, both through the physical space and the online platform.
Dartbooks understands the photobook not merely as an object of consumption, but as a cultural artifact that documents artistic practices, historical contexts, and personal visions. The bookshop functions simultaneously as a place of discovery, an archive in constant growth, and a point of connection between photographers, publishers, and readers.
Details
Number of books
1
Subject
Photography
Book title
Sha / Shaft
Author/ Illustrator
Noriaki Yokosuka
Condition
Very good
Publication year oldest item
1972
Height
26.5 cm
Edition
1st Edition
Width
21.5 cm
Language
English, Japanese
Original language
Yes
Publisher
Chuo Koron Sha
Binding/ Material
Hardback
Extras
Dust jacket
Number of pages
120
