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Kotori Kawashima "Saranran"
Fugensha
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Artists
Kotori Kawashima
Fugensha is pleased to announce the solo exhibition "Saranran / 사란란" by photographer Kotori
Kawashima, held in celebration of the release of Shashin Magazine Vol.7, from May 8 (Thu) to June 1
(Sun), 2025.
Kotori Kawashima was born in Tokyo in 1980, and is a photographer who graduated from Waseda
University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of French Studies. He won the Grand
Prize at the 10th Shinpusha-Hirama Itaru Photography Award in 2006 for his debut work "BABY
BABY", which was published as a photobook the following year. His 2011 photobook "Miraichan",
featuring a young girl living on Sado Island, became a massive hit with over 130,000 copies sold to date,
and won the 42nd Kodansha Publishing Culture Award for Photography. In 2014, he received the
prestigious 40th Kimura Ihei Photography Award for "Myojo", a project photographed across three years
in Taiwan.
Regardless of where or what he photographs, Kawashima’s work transports viewers to "somewhere not
here"—a place that transcends reality. His images cast an instant spell, enchanting audiences with their
dreamlike quality. This magical allure has led him to great success not only in photography but also in
advertising and fashion.
Featured in Shashin Magazine Vol.7 (published April 20), "Saranran / 사란란" is Kawashima's latest
series, photographed in Seoul, South Korea. Amid a busy career, he sought to reconnect with his initial
resolution and spared time for self-reflection. Over the span of seven months, from autumn to spring, he
traveled alone to Seoul. The city, where he once spent two weeks as a high school exchange student 30
years ago, became a place to rediscover traces of his pre-photographer self. Immersing himself in the
energy of the city, he embraced each encounter with a fresh perspective, capturing people and scenes that
emotionally moved him, with honest and instinctive clicks of the shutter. Freed from the constraints of his
past artistic identity, Kawashima engaged in a dialogue with the soul that resides deep within him. The
resulting photographs offer a rare glimpse into the unfiltered self of the artist—one that no one has seen
before. We invite you to experience this new chapter in Kotori Kawashima’s creative journey.
An opening reception will be held on the first day, May 8 (Thu).
Additionally, a gallery talk with Shashin Magazine chief editor Masakazu Murakami will take place on
Saturday, May 17.
[Related Event]
Gallery Talk: Kotori Kawashima × Masakazu Murakami (Shashin Magazine Chief Curator)
Date: May 17 (Sat), 14:00–15:30
Venue: Fugensha
Participation Fee: 1,000 yen (for offline and online)
*For event details and how to make a reservation, please check the official website.
Kawashima, held in celebration of the release of Shashin Magazine Vol.7, from May 8 (Thu) to June 1
(Sun), 2025.
Kotori Kawashima was born in Tokyo in 1980, and is a photographer who graduated from Waseda
University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of French Studies. He won the Grand
Prize at the 10th Shinpusha-Hirama Itaru Photography Award in 2006 for his debut work "BABY
BABY", which was published as a photobook the following year. His 2011 photobook "Miraichan",
featuring a young girl living on Sado Island, became a massive hit with over 130,000 copies sold to date,
and won the 42nd Kodansha Publishing Culture Award for Photography. In 2014, he received the
prestigious 40th Kimura Ihei Photography Award for "Myojo", a project photographed across three years
in Taiwan.
Regardless of where or what he photographs, Kawashima’s work transports viewers to "somewhere not
here"—a place that transcends reality. His images cast an instant spell, enchanting audiences with their
dreamlike quality. This magical allure has led him to great success not only in photography but also in
advertising and fashion.
Featured in Shashin Magazine Vol.7 (published April 20), "Saranran / 사란란" is Kawashima's latest
series, photographed in Seoul, South Korea. Amid a busy career, he sought to reconnect with his initial
resolution and spared time for self-reflection. Over the span of seven months, from autumn to spring, he
traveled alone to Seoul. The city, where he once spent two weeks as a high school exchange student 30
years ago, became a place to rediscover traces of his pre-photographer self. Immersing himself in the
energy of the city, he embraced each encounter with a fresh perspective, capturing people and scenes that
emotionally moved him, with honest and instinctive clicks of the shutter. Freed from the constraints of his
past artistic identity, Kawashima engaged in a dialogue with the soul that resides deep within him. The
resulting photographs offer a rare glimpse into the unfiltered self of the artist—one that no one has seen
before. We invite you to experience this new chapter in Kotori Kawashima’s creative journey.
An opening reception will be held on the first day, May 8 (Thu).
Additionally, a gallery talk with Shashin Magazine chief editor Masakazu Murakami will take place on
Saturday, May 17.
[Related Event]
Gallery Talk: Kotori Kawashima × Masakazu Murakami (Shashin Magazine Chief Curator)
Date: May 17 (Sat), 14:00–15:30
Venue: Fugensha
Participation Fee: 1,000 yen (for offline and online)
*For event details and how to make a reservation, please check the official website.
Schedule | May 8 (Thu) 2025-Jun 1 (Sun) 2025 Opening Hours Information
Opening Reception May 8 (Thu) 2025 17:00 - 20:00 Admission: ¥3,500 (includes 1 copy of Shashin Magazine Vol.7 + 1 drink) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://fugensha.jp/events/250508kawashima/ | ||||
| Venue | Fugensha https://fugensha.jp/about/eng.html | ||||
| Location | 5-3-12 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0064 | ||||
| Access | 17 minute walk from the West exit of Meguro Station on the Tokyu Meguro, Namboku, Toei Mita or JR Yamanote line; From the West exit of JR Meguro Station, take the Tokyu bus and get off at Moto Keibajo Mae. The venue is 1 minute walk from there. | ||||
| Phone | 03-6264-3665 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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