What's this? Book review of Hideki Fujii's photo book.

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Impressions: This is an elegant two-volume set that comes in its own cardboard sleeve. The black volume is the thicker one and it contains exquisite photographs of many famous Japanese actresses. Most of these portraits were taken in the studio or in a Japanese room with tatami mats. Almost all the actresses are in a kimono. Japanese props are often used such as a tea cup, an umbrella, bamboo, and an urushi lacquered box. The color photos are large, with many two-page spreads. The make-up and wardrobe are first-class. Fujii is a master photographer of women in kimono.

There are several photos of each of the 25 actresses. They are Sayuri Yoshinaga (in kimono), Yoshiko Mita (in kimono), Yoko Yamamoto (in kimono), Yuko Asano (still in her 20s), Ayumi Ishida (in kimono), Shima Iwashita (in kimono), Izumi Yamaguchi, Yutaka Nakajima (sexy), Yumi Takigawa (in kimono), Yuko Kotegawa, Yoshie Ichige (in kimono), Judy Ongg (in kimono), Nana Kinomi (in kimono), Keiko Takeshita (in kimono), Yasuko Sawaguchi, Nana Okada (in kimono), Hiroko Shino (in kimono), Aki Mizusawa (in kimono), Keiko Oginome, Rino Katase, Sayoko Yamaguchi (ultra-exotic), Yoko Isono (in kimono), Yukiyo Toake (in kimono), Masako Natsume, and Keiko Matsuzaka (in kimono).

My favorite is Sayoko Yamaguchi (pictured on the right) who was Japan's most famous model in the late 1970s and early '80s. She was the advertising poster girl for Shiseido Cosmetics. The exotic make-up which painted her face white like a geisha was her trademark. Her eyes were also strongly accented. It was almost like kabuki make-up. We wouldn't recognize her without make-up on. This black volume is certainly a milestone photo collection of actresses.

In the thinner, red volume, lesser known actresses are posed nude with a wide variety of props and pieces of clothing. The following actresses are featured: Kyoko Aizome, Noriko Hayami, Mari Kisaragi, Yoko Anju, Miyoko Sometani, Asami Oka, Natsuko Takami, Naomi Kawada, Rei Akasaka, Aya Kisaragi, and Kei Mizuno.

Again the photos are exquisite and you can recognize Fujii's own photographic style. He uses a lot of veils and other see-through materials as props. He also shows his Fujiigraphy color pictures on interesting materials such as marble and canvas (using film emulsion painted on the surface). Of course, the kimono is also present. Even erotic body paintings are shown. This pair of photo books are among the best there is. (Reviewed by Philbert Ono)

1900-5