Akihito Yoshida Photo Exhibition “The Dialogue of Two” – Publication Launch by Three Books January 11-19, 2025
Reminders Photography Stronghold is pleased to present the Akihito Yoshida photo exhibition “The Dialogue of Two” to celebrate the publication launch of this special photo book.
In 2014, Daiki—at the age of 23—passed away unexpectedly. The Dialogue of Two is a poignant story following approximately three years in the life of photographer Akihito Yoshida’s cousin Daiki after his passing, told through the lens of the grandmother who lived with him until her own passing. This series reveals the ways in which those who have lost their loved ones find ways to communicate and live alongside the memories of the departed, woven together by a recurring story that the photographer’s grandmother often shared in her lifetime.
The prequel to this story, The Absence of Two, was created as a limited edition of 111 hand-bound copies in the “Photobook as Object” workshop at Reminders Photography Stronghold (RPS). It depicts the everyday life shared by Daiki and his grandmother until its end and first drew international attention when it was exhibited at the 2017 KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival.
The Dialogue of Two was published in 2022 as a limited artist edition of 49 copies, curated by RPS’s Yumi Goto. It was shortlisted for both the Image Vevey Award 2023/24 (Switzerland) and the 47th Kimura Ihei Award (Japan), selling out in no time.
Now, with a fresh new release by Three Books scheduled for January 2025, this exhibition invites you to explore not only the finished work but also the creative journey behind it. You can see the book’s mock-ups,
editorial drafts, print proofs, and a dummy of the limited 49-copy artist edition, illustrating the meticulous production process.
Please look forward to this unique exhibition that delves into the making of a powerful narrative on memory and legacy.
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
The Dialogue of Two
There is a small rural town called Kunitomi in Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan.
In this town, my grandmother and my cousin Daiki lived together. Since childhood, Daiki had lived in the same house, in the same room as my grandmother, and was raised with great care. Even as he grew into a young man, he stayed with her, and their life together continued.
As a family member and a photographer, I had been documenting the quiet moments of their daily lives together. I had always thought this story would end with the natural passing of my grandmother, an event I imagined would come in the not-so-distant future. But the ending came suddenly, without any warning. Daiki chose to end his life. He was 23.
Faced with his all-too-premature death, what remained for us was indescribable sadness and regret. Yet the true sorrow came when I saw my grandmother left alone, grieving the loss of her beloved grandson. She would say, “There is no point to living. I just want to go to him.” Her sense of loss and despair must have been beyond words.
All I could do was turn my camera toward her, pressing the shutter as if to fend off her sadness.
When did she start standing by the window, staring blankly outside? Around that time, she also began recounting a story she needed to tell me over and over again. It was always the same: “Daiki came back last night.” She described it in vivid detail, as if it had truly happened, always ending with, “It wasn’t a dream. Daiki was here. He came back.” I lost count of how many times I heard this story, each telling filling me with complex emotions I could not put into words.
Then, on November 18, 2016, about two and a half years after Daiki’s passing, my grandmother quietly left this world at the age of 88.
Even after losing Daiki, she continued to feel his presence closer than anyone else. Through the photographs left behind, I hope to weave together the depth of her grief and the profound love that flowed between her and Daiki.
Akihito Yoshida
Akihito Yoshida Photo Exhibition “The Dialogue of Two” – Publication Launch by Three Books
◎Exhibition Period: January 11 (Sat) – January 19 (Sun), 2025
Hours: 13:00 – 19:00, Open daily, Free admission
◎Opening Reception / Artist Talk
January 11 (Sat) at approximately 14:00
Note: The opening reception and artist talk will begin at 14:00. The exhibition will be open from 13:00.
◎Venue: Reminders Photography Stronghold Gallery
Address: 2-38-5 Higashimukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
(6-minute walk from Tobu Skytree Line Hikifune Station or 5-minute walk from Keisei Hikifune Station)
Additional talks and events may be held during the exhibition period. Details will be announced as they are confirmed, so please check our social media channels for the latest information.
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
©︎Akihito Yoshida / The Dialogue of Two
Akihito Yoshida ｜ Profile
Born in Miyazaki, Japan in 1980. Lives and works in Kyoto City. After graduating from the Faculty of Education at Shiga University, worked as a Japanese language teacher in Thailand for one year. After returning to Japan, worked as an elementary school teacher for 6 years, and began working as a photographer in 2010.
While working mainly for advertisements and magazines, he has created works on the themes of “working people” and “life and death,” which have been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad.
His photo books include “Brick Yard” and “Tannery” (above, private edition), “THE ABSENCE OF TWO” (Seigensha, Editions Xavier Barral) In 2021, his book “Shanimuni Photographer” (Aki Shobo), which describes his 10 years as a photographer, was published. He has received numerous awards, including the Nikkei National Geographic Photography Award 2015 and the Grand Prize in the People category.
http://www.akihito-yoshida.com