For more than 20 years, Japanese photographer and contemporary artist Nobuyoshi Araki, known throughout the art world as simply ‘Araki’ (アラーキー), has been part of an ongoing monthly interview series – 愛ノ説明 (Lit. Ai no setsume, trans. Explanation of Love) – run by Kodansha’s women's magazine ‘VOCE’.
Each month, the series has covered different themes, such as women’s theory, photography, happiness, art, and life and death.
Now, that series of interviews have been compiled and archived into one book.

The book, entitled 愛バナ (lit. Ai Bana) includes 151 selected wise phrases from Araki – which have been coined as ‘Araki-bushi’ – alongside 163 of his most widely known photographs.

The book consists of a selection of words and phrases from Araki that have been engraved into the memories of editors, writers and readers of VOCE magazine. With each turn of a page, it is possible to see what Araki’s thinking was like at the time, how he sees and understands things, and his unchanging philosophies that he has been expressing through each interview for more than two decades. Witness Araki’s humour, changes in his viewpoints and his kind personality which shines through in 愛バナ.

Included in the book are some 163 photographs taken by Araki. From rarely seen photographs that were taken back in the early days of his photography career, to some of his best known pieces that have been loved by fans both in Japan and worldwide – this is a book that can be enjoyed not only fans, but also by those who are just discovering the world of Araki.

The book also includes a section at the back where it goes into detail about Araki and eight themes that have been consistent throughout his life’s work such as his wife, the influence he gets from the sky, the city and of course, photography.

The hardcover features a red sleeve printed with the title 愛バナ, written in traditional calligraphy by Araki himself.

愛バナ (trans. Ai Bana)

Phrases from 20 years of interviews with artist Nobuyoshi Araki
Features: 228mm x 166mm, hardcover book with sleeve
ISBN 978-4-06-522676-6
Release: After 25th May 2021 (date varies depending on the region)
Price: 3300 yen (tax included)