Utatane Siesta . With: Hanabi Fireworks .

Utatane: Large 8vo (242 x 190 mm), pp.[132]. 129 colour photographs, art direction by Gento Matsumoto, design by Shoko Yamana. Original wrappers, spine lettered in blue. Original colour photo-illustrated dust-jacket; very light rubbing to lower panel. Original obi, text printed in black; lightly rubbed. Kawauchi’s signature in black ink to half-title. A fine copy in a near-fine dust-jacket and obi.

Hanabi: Large 8vo (244 x 192 mm), pp.[72]. 69 colour photographs, art direction by Gento Matsumoto, design by Shoko Yamana. Original wrappers, spine lettered in pink; head of spine bumped. Original colour photoillustrated dust-jacket; creasing to head of spine. Original obi, text printed in black. Kawauchi’s signature in black ink to title-page. Near-fine.

First editions, signed copies, of the two books that earned Kawauchi the 27th Ihei Kimura Prize. Kawauchi makes deceptively simple photographs of passing moments which are tinged with a sense of loss. Kishin Shinoyama, a judge of the Kimura prize, said of her work, ‘anyone who thinks her photos are designed to have a healing effect or produce some degree of happiness, which is trendy now, is making a big mistake. Her pictures are fearful. They are cruel and erotic.’

Parr, M. and Badger, G., The Photobook: A History Vol.II, pp.316-7.