Various photographersNichidai Toso

A document about Nihon University Struggle from 1968 to 1969.

Nihon University Protests

"Afterword"

Several hours before we completed the final draft of this book, the University of Tokyo campus was violated twice by state power. Inside the room where we had been editing, an injured individual who had taken a direct hit from tear bombs lay on the ground. Our clothes smelled of the nauseating gases which irritated our nose. "Bastards!" Anger welled up in us in spite of our fatigue.

Photo Book: Nihon University Protest or Graphic Book: Nihon University Protest; we refuse to call this book by either of these names. This book was put together through the struggles of Nihon University comrades. We wish to dedicate this book as a love letter to all fellow students who are fighting on their campuses throughout Japan and the world. We also hope that it will be read as a report on the Nihon University All-Campus Joint Struggle League, which shall continue for a long time. This book contains photographs that should not be reported and also embarrassments that we would not want to reveal to the general public. However, with the understanding that the authorities are withholding even more data, we deliberately expose all of ourselves to show everyone the real face of the Nihon University protests: how our struggles have been liberating, wonderful, and painful. If we are able to urge those fellow students who have distanced themselves from the battle line to join our struggles, then we have succeeded in conveying our love with this book. If we can garner more support from the general public, then we will be able to have more trust in humanity.

Needless to say, most of the photographs in this book were shot by the documentary squad of the All-Campus Joint Struggle League. At times carrying wooden staves in their hands and at other times the camera, they photographed relentlessly. We are not afraid of being incomplete.

Rather, we identify joy and beauty in the incomplete, just like each of our wooden staves.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the female photographer Ms. Manami, who took many of the photographs for the creation of this book; the Godo Sangyo publishing department, who undertook the entire publishing process; and everyone who worked with us on the editing. Finally, we salute all protesters with a call for solidarity.

- P101"Provoke" published Steidl & Le Bal in 2016

Softcover, 29 x 22 cm. B&W photographs beautifully reproduced in rich gravure printing. Rare in that very god condition.