“Solitude Standing” is released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese photographer Ichiro Kojima’s birth. Kojima, born in Aomori in 1924, documented life in the challenging climate of Japan’s northern Tohoku region. His untimely death at the age of 39 marked the end of a career that spanned just a decade, yet the powerful imagery he left behind continues to captivate audiences today. In this edition, Tokyo-based publisher Roshin Books emphasizes the theme of solitude within Kojima’s body of work. The collection features numerous previously unseen photographs from the Aomori Museum of Art.
Additionally, the book includes a supplementary volume titled “Evening Sun in Tokyo,” which highlights Kojima’s rare works from his time in Tokyo. The emotional depth and sense of longing conveyed in these images of urban sunsets leave a lasting impact on the viewer. Even though Kojima tried to move away from his earlier depictions of Tsugaru, the haunting visions of Tohoku remained ever-present in his art. Beneath the city sunsets he photographed, one can almost sense the quiet, snow-covered landscapes of Tsugaru, where the snow continued its peaceful descent. This book offers a new perspective on Kojima’s journey, appealing both to those already familiar with his work and those discovering it for the first time.