Shashinshu Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa.

Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa is a politically driven book focusing on the continued presence of American military bases in Okinawa. While the United States occupation of Japan officially came to an end in 1952, Okinawa remained officially off-limits for Japanese nationals until it reverted to Japanese sovereignty in 1972. In the late 1950s, Shomei Tomatsu began a significant series photographing American military bases in Japan. In 1968, after being subjected to a vetting process given to all Japanese citizens who wished to visit, he was granted access to travel to Okinawa for the first time. The photographs, many of which compare stylistically to the Provoke photographers, contrast aspects of traditional Japanese life with images of the US occupying forces and protests against their presence.

The text on the cover reproduces a slogan used by protesters: 'Okinawa ni kichi ga aru no dewa naku kichi no naka ni Okinawa ga aru' [It is not that there are military bases located in Okinawa, but rather, Okinawa is located within the military bases].

First edition; oblong 4to (261 × 210 mm, 10¼ x 8¼ in); black-and-white photographs printed in gravure by Gurabia Seikosha, Tokyo, light toning; photo-illustrated wrappers, printed in yellow and black, light wear to extremities, repair to upper wrapper verso along spine, light rubbing, light marking on lower side, publisher's ticket laid in, a good copy in a custom paper-covered board slipcase and chemise; [96]pp.

For a New World to Come 282; The Japanese Photobook 1912-1990 235 p219.