東日暮里帝国湯synchronicity

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PHOTOGRAPHER 廣瀬 達郎 TATSUO HIROSE

1972: Born in Kanagawa; later raised in Gunma

1998: Held solo exhibition "Konchu-ki" (Insect chronicle)

1999: Held solo exhibition "Mimi wo Sumashite" (Listen)

2012: Co-held three-person exhibit

2013: Co-held three-person exhibit

2014: Co-held three-person exhibit

2015: Co-held three-person exhibit

We passed under the curtain and stood in
the middle to observe a space bisected between left and right.
What we saw were people acting
peculiarly in sync.
It’s a beauty of coincidence that seems to
pop up everywhere. The miracle could be happening closer to you than you’d think.
Before the baths open,
the employees warm the tiles to
welcome their guests.
The owner says he wants them to
“take their time relaxing and feeling good.”
The Teikoku-yu public bath overflows with omotenashi, the Japanese spirit of hospitality.

ART DIRECTOR 関 友和 TOMOKAZU SEKI

1976: Born in Tokyo

2001: Graduated from the Department of Design at Tokyo University of the Arts; joined Hakuhodo

PRIZE :

  • Asahi Advertising Award.
    JR Transit Advertising Grand Prix.
    Japan Package Design Awards, Silver.
    ADC Award, Pre Nominated, etc.

Parents with their children, siblings,
close couples, husband and wife, people from the same walks of life... In this moment they act in sync, striking the same pose while drinking
a coffee, sighing at the same time...
It’s fascinating to watch, like a synchronized swimming performance.
The people photographed were completely unaware of this. At first they were a little weirded out, but couldn’t resist smiling.
This piece is a miraculous synchronization that occurred at a sento (public bath) in
a traditionally working-class part of Tokyo. Regardless of age or gender, it is a special place where people expose both their bodies and minds and behave very much in sync.
This venerable public bath has been around since the early 20th century. Regular customers line up 10 minutes before the doors open to be first in the baths. This day was no exception. The locals still have a fondness for their sento, but old establishments like this are a rarity today.
The symmetry, by the way, even extends to the building that houses the Higashi-nippori Teikoku-yu public bath.

STAFF LIST

  • P: Tatsuo Hirose
  • AD: Tomokazu Seki
  • Ret: Michiko Nishio
  • Pr : Shunta Ishigami
  • Crd: Tomohiro Sato(nico)
  • Cas: UNCUT, CRAYON, SMILE MONKEY PINOKIO PROMOTION, AVOCADO
  • Location: Teikoku-yu

TATSUO HIROSE

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TOMOKAZU SEKI