DEAR OLD DAYS II
During the 2019 reprint of Dear Old Days, Seisodo uncovered over 8,000 unseen photographs taken by Ryoji Akiyama in early 1980s China, a remarkable archive that had never been published or exhibited.
Dear Old Days II presents 122 images from this rediscovered time capsule, offering a deeper and more nuanced perspective than the original edition.
While the success of the 2019 reprint resonated strongly with nostalgia, capturing a collective sense of “a past forever lost” amid China’s rapid transformation Akiyama’s work extends beyond sentiment. His gift lies in the way he intuitively orchestrated fleeting encounters with children into images of quiet sophistication. Though spontaneous and unarranged, each photograph carries a refined compositional strength and emotional clarity. This sequel allows viewers to more fully appreciate the photographic mastery behind those seemingly simple moments.
Dear Old Days II expands its lens to explore not only the children themselves, but the physical and spiritual environments that shaped their world. Period specific objects and everyday scenes reconstruct the texture of life in 1980s China: iconic Flying Pigeon bicycles, tin thermos flasks, Mao jackets, bamboo baskets, rental bookshops, climbing frames, narrow brick alleys, school buildings, and muddy roads. Adult parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors often stand just beyond the frame, quietly supervising.
Their presence speaks to the deep networks of trust and human connection that defined childhood in that era. The children’s radiant smiles reflect more than innocence; they reveal a world built on community and shared care.
In 2020, Dear Old Days II was ranked No.1 in the Art & Design category on Douban, China’s largest book platform, and also achieved first place in annual sales at a leading Japanese online photography bookstore.
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Language: Chinese & Japanese
Format: Hardcover | 140 pages
Dimensions: 260 x 250mm | 795g
Publication Year: 2024 | Fourth Edition
ISBN: 978-4-909787-00-2
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