HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024 NINE STORIES

In commemoration of the publication of the photo book "NINE STORIES" — which documents HIKARU UTADA’s first nationwide tour in six years, "SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024," celebrating her 25th debut anniversary from the perspective of nine photographers — we are pleased to announce a photo exhibition at New Gallery in Jimbocho, Tokyo, from Friday, March 7th to Sunday, March 30th.

The project "NINE STORIES," named after a quotation from a short story by J.D. Salinger, weaves together the stories of the nine cities in which it was held, with nine photographers capturing HIKARU UTADA's live music.

The participating photographers—representing the forefront of contemporary art with their unique perspectives and expressions—include: Kazuhiro Kimura, Chika Suzuki, Mayumi Hosokura, Rinko Kawachi, Daido Moriyama, John Yuyi, Wing Shya, Takashi Honma, and Rika Noguchi. From nine viewpoints—"Observation," "Fragment (Part of)," "Physicality," "Radiance," "Relationships," "Self-projection," "Kaleidoscope," "Simultaneity," and "Presence"—they each capture various events and landscapes from their distinct perspectives.

For details, please refer to the 'NINE STORIES' special website.
▶'NINE STORIES' Special Website

Please be sure to appreciate this exhibition, which presents an unprecedented form of live photography/photo book born out of a collaboration with top-tier photographers—a feat made possible only by the extraordinary artist HIKARU UTADA.

Photographers

Kazuhei Kimura

Born in 1993 in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. Lives in Tokyo. Received the Jury
Encouragement Award at the 19th Photo 1_WALL and the Grand Prix at IMA next #6 “Black&White”. Major solo exhibitions include “counterpoint” (Roll) in 2022, 23, and 2024, “The Other Side of the Window” (BOOK AND SONS) in 2020, and major photobooks “The Other Side of the Window” (Akaakasha), “wing curtain”, “lighthouse”(both aptp) and “IRON RIBBON”(Libraryman).

Chikashi Suzuki

Born in 1972, he moved to France in 1998 and began his career as a photographer with the magazine Purple. Currently represented by the KOSAKU KANECHIKA gallery, he has produced work for domestic and international magazines as well as commercial projects for ISSEY MIYAKE, GUCCI, CHANEL, and JOHN LOBB. His major group exhibitions include COLETTE (Paris, 1998), MOCA (Los Angeles, 2001), and the Henry Art Gallery (Washington, 2001). Notable solo exhibitions were held at TREESARESOSPECIAL (Tokyo, 2005), G/P GALLERY (Tokyo, 2009), and Kosaku Kanechika (Tokyo, 2018, 2019, 2020). His representative photobooks include shapes of blooming (TREESARESOSPECIAL, 2005), Driving with Rinko Kikuchi (THE INTERNATIONAL, 2008), CITE (G/P GALLERY and TREESARESOSPECIAL, 2009), and SAKURA! (LITTLE MORE, 2014).

Mayumi Hosokura

Born in Kyoto, Hosokura Mayumi experiments with photographic imagery to question the boundaries regarded as natural between the organic and the mineral, the human and the animal, the human and the machine, as well as racial or sexual identities. Her work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions in Japan and abroad, as well as solo exhibitions, notably Walking, Diving (Takuro Someya Contemporary Art, Tokyo, 2023), New Skin (mumei, Tokyo, Japan, 2019) , and Jubilee (nomad nomad studio, Hong Kong, 2017). She has published several books, including New Skin (MACK, 2020), Jubilee (artbeat publishers, 2017), and Transparency is the New Mystery (MACK, 2016).

Rinko Kawauchi

Born in Shiga in 1972. In 2002, she received the 27th Kimura Ihei Award for her photobooks “Utatane” and “Hanabi”. Highly acclaimed both in Japan and overseas—most notably receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award at the Sony World Photography Awards in 2023—she has held numerous exhibitions worldwide. Her major publications include Illuminance (2011), Ametsuchi (2013), and Halo (2017). From 2022 to 2023, she staged a large-scale solo exhibition, “Rinko Kawauchi: M/E On this sphere Endlessly interlinking” at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery and the Shiga Museum of Art. Her latest photobook, “M/E”, will be published in January 2025.

Daiso Moriyama

Born 1938 in Ikeda, Osaka. A designer turned photographer, he worked as an assistant to Takeji Iwamiya and Eikoh Hosoe before becoming a freelance photographer in 1964, winning the New Artist Award of the Japan Photo Critics Society in 1967 for his series such as 'Japan Photo Theater' published in Camera Mainichi magazine.
He has had major exhibitions in Japan and abroad, including at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1999; toured to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Japan Society, New York), the National Museum of Art, Osaka (2011) and a joint exhibition with William Klein at the Tate Modern, London (2012-13), He has received international acclaim, including the International Center of Photography (New York) Infinity Award (2012), the Order of Arts and Culture from the French Government (2018) and the Hasselblad International Photography Award (2019).

John Yuyi

Born in Taiwan, 1991. John Yuyi grew up immersed in the post-Internet generation,” which has profoundly shaped her interdisciplinary work across art, fashion, and social media. As the original text states, she is “globally recognized as a leading interdisciplinary voice,” often exploring “the female body” and the impact of social media through “temporary tattoos” as a “performative canvas.” She has exhibited worldwide and collaborated with brands like Gucci and Kenzo, garnering international acclaim, including recognition in “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.” Recent shows in Switzerland, the UK, and Berlin reflect her ongoing global influence, and her work was notably introduced in Taiwan’s high school Fine Art textbooks in 2023 and 2024, underscoring her cultural significance.

Wing Shya

Born in Hong Kong in 1964, he studied fine arts at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Canada before returning to Hong Kong, where he established the design studio “Shya-la-la Workshop” and received numerous awards. In 1997, he was appointed by film director Wong Kar-wai as the exclusive photographer and graphic designer for the movie Happy Together (known in Japan as Buenos Aires). In 2006, he held a solo exhibition titled “Wing Shya Exhibition” at the Mori Arts Center Gallery, and has since showcased his work through solo exhibitions around the world, including in New York, Italy, and Hong Kong.

Takashi Homma

In 1999, he received the 24th Kimura Ihei Award for his photobook “Tokyo Kogai” published by Korinsha.

Among his notable publications is “Tanoshii Shashin: Yoiko no tame no shashin kyōshitsu” from Heibonsha.

Recent works include “TOKYO OLYMPIA” (published by NIEVES) and “Thirty-six View of Mount Fuji” (published by MACK). From 2023 to 2024, he is presenting a solo exhibition titled “Revolution 9” at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum.

Rika Noguchi

Rika Noguchi (b. 1971, Saitama) lives and works in Okinawa, Japan. She began creating photographic works in 1992 and has since exhibited widely both in Japan and internationally, including major contemporary art events such as the Carnegie International and the Biennale of Sydney. Among her notable solo exhibitions are “Premonition” (Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, Kagawa, 2001), “I Dreamt of Flying” (Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, 2004), and “Mysterious Power” (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, 2022–2023). Her works are held in the collections of institutions including the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; the National Museum of Art, Osaka; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; and the Centre Pompidou, Paris.

Hikaru Utada

Hikaru Utada, Singer-songwriter
Born on 19 January 1983

Japanese singer-songwriter and producer Hikaru Utada stands as one of the most influential artists in J-pop and the global music scene. Since bursting onto the scene in 1998, Utada achieved many remarkable milestones in their career. Their first single ‘Automatic/time will tell’ sold over two million copies, propelling them to become one of Japan’s top artists at the age of 15. Just months later, their debut full-length First Love shattered domestic CD sales figures, holding the record for best-selling album ever, an honor it still boasts today.

Recently, Utada’s artistry has reached new heights. Their eighth album BAD MODE garnered high praise both domestically and internationally, with multiple music outlets hailing it as one of 2022’s best releases. That year, Utada made their festival debut at the globally recognized Coachella Festival in California, joining celebrated label 88rising as part of their exhilarating showcase.

To mark 25 years since their debut, Utada released their first greatest hits album, SCIENCE FICTION, in the spring of 2024. This milestone was celebrated with the eagerly awaited “SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024,” their first nationwide tour in six years, which concluded with a spectacular finale at Yokohama’s K Arena on September 1. The historic live performance journey was immortalized with the release of the concert film “HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024.”

With their exceptional talent, innovative sound, introspective lyrics, and emotional vocal registry, Utada continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of contemporary music, inspiring generations of global audiences. Their artistry remains a shining example of the power of art to push boundaries, break fresh ground and reach new milestones.

Hikaru Utada Official Site: https://www.utadahikaru.jp/
SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024 Official Site: https://live.hikaruutada-tour-official.com/