‘Ken Domon is widely regarded as Japan’s leading photographer of the immediate post-war years: He worked in the classic photojournalistic mode, seeking to document Japanese life in the troubled aftermath of the war. During the 1950s, at a time when the rest of the Japanese economy was beginning to recover to prewar levels, the coal-mining areas of Chikuho and Kitakyushu, in the far south of Japan, suffered both from a population exodus and pit closures. Domon documented the effects of this drastic decline on the miners and their families in [these] two books. Both look at the plight of the district’s children. He aimed to reach out to the broadest possible readership, thus he had the books printed cheaply, on rough paper, in the manner of a bound newspaper’ (Parr & Badger, 274, 278) – – – – – – – – – Rare first Edition, first printing of both ‘Children of Chikuho’ with its sequel in the same year ‘Rumie’s Father is Dead’ in nice collectible condition, individual description here – – – – – – – – – “Chikuho no Kodomotachi / Children of Chikuho” dated 25th January 1960, First edition, first printing, Publisher: Patria-shobo. Condition – Very Good/Good condition with some wear and light soiling to cover with small closed tear at the top and some light creases to the surface. Spine has areas of wear where the laminate and and in one place the cover has split (3 cm) by a staple, but it is still strong. Tanning to the pages and inside cover because of cheap paper stock which is quite strong at the edges – usual for this volume – – – – – – – – – “Rumie-chan wa Otosan ga Shinda / Rumie’s Father is Dead” dated 20th November 1960, First edition, first printing. Publisher: Kenko-sha. Condition – Very Good/Good condition. Cover has been originally stapled very slightly skew. Light wear and light soiling to cover, small stained area at back by bottom staple, some fine surface creases and some laminate loss/rubbing to the spine with a small tear to bottom spine. Inside covers have some foxing. Inside pages are slightly tanned – stronger at the edges but in nice condition for age and cheap paper stock.

Link To AbeBooks Listing ………