そしてふれあうも (So We May Touch) — Yoshie Ikemoto, 1974–1990, first edition 1993

A rare and emotionally resonant posthumous collection, So We May Touch gathers photographs taken by Yoshie Ikemoto between 1974 and 1990 — a body of work that moves quietly between friendship, intimacy, and the fleeting warmth of everyday life. Published in Tokyo shortly after the artist’s untimely passing, the book functions both as retrospective and tribute, with images that feel diaristic yet composed, spontaneous yet deeply humane.

Printed in soft monochrome and modest in scale, the photobook opens a private world of gestures and faces — likely friends, lovers, and family — captured with a lightness of touch rarely seen in 20th-century Japanese photography. Where Araki or Moriyama leaned into eros or grit, Ikemoto’s work lingers in moments of joy, trust, and quiet solidarity. There is a softness here, not sentimental, but real — an ethics of presence more than a display of style.

The slim format and understated design reinforce the book’s personal, almost handmade aura. Distributed by G.I.P. Tokyo and printed in a limited run, it remains largely unknown outside of Japan. A precious document from a life in pictures, and a vital counterpoint to the canonical narratives of Japanese photography.

Technical Sheet
Title: そしてふれあうも (So We May Touch)
Artist / Author: Yoshie Ikemoto
Date: 1993 (photographs 1974–1990)
Technique / Printing Method: Offset
Medium / Materials: Softcover
Dimensions (cm): approx. 21 × 25
Language: Japanese
Pages: Unnumbered
Publisher / Editor: G.I.P. Tokyo
Edition: First edition
Condition: Very good