The annual street photo publication from Jun Abe and Vacuum Press is a fantastic two-volume set of pictures taken in 1981.
Titled with his usual practical sense, 1981上 &1981下 are everything that current Jun Abe fans have been wanting, and something that will certainly earn him new viewers. His earlier street book Citizens (2009) has rightfully earned an intense following since its publication- I receive requests for this book every so often but have to give the same reply: It is absolutely unobtainable. HOWEVER- with 1981, there’s an upside- These two books are as enjoyably satisfying as Citizens- and are fresh off the press.
Jun Abe, with his 35mm SLR and basic 28 or 35mm lens, snipped out from reality in a single year enough great pictures to fill two books- street photo fans will not be disappointed. Bottom line: these are the best Jun Abe publications since Citizens.
International customers: Check the Japan Exposures bookstore’s Jun Abe page- hopefully these will be available for order soon. (you can also send them an email asking to reserve a copy). Those in Tokyo can head on over to Sokyusha in Shinjuku to pick them up.
Notes:
–I’ve written about Abe several times over the past few years with reviews/introductions of his books Citizens, Kokubyaku Note,Manila, and Kokubyaku Note 2, as well as one of his exhibitions in Tokyo in 2012.
–My copies were a kind gift from the photographer himself- the evening they I found mine in mailbox I got a text from Shinya Arimoto gushing about how amazing these books are- indeed, photos of these books from other photographer/editor pals who got copies popped up on facebook that same evening- everyone is excited. This is the real thing.