YAKUZA published in GEO Epoche
Recently, the incredibly friendly and professional people at GEO Epoche magazine in Germany contacted me to supply images for their new issue about the history of organized crime throughout the world. Specifically, they wanted to use my images to complement their 18 page chapter about the history of the Yakuza in Japan from 1945 to 2010… of course I gladly obliged. This special issue #48 hits the stands today April 13, 2011.
The editors at GEO Epoche are an absolute joy to work with. Super professional, an incredible eye to detail, and strong research, they also valued my opinions and possible safety concerns and the overall context. I’ve always felt it a very sensitive issue to give control away over the context of my images, but I have never felt at any moment that they treated it lightly. I am very impressed.
Oh, and they’re also including an image of mine in their newsletter, 15 extra images in a slide show on their website to promote the story, and they’re also making mention of the upcoming ODO YAKUZA TOKYO book (more about that book very soon), and the second issue of 893 Magazine.
I simply couldn’t be happier the way this all came together. Online, offline, printed, screen, past, present, future,…. all in one big mix.
Below you can see the actual layout of the spreads in the GEO Epoche printed magazine (issue #48), and these are the links to the connected online content: GEO Epoche – issue #48, the chapter about the Yakuza and the Yakuza slide show (both in German).
Bjarte Edvardsen
April 13, 2011 at 16:00 //
Seems like a very good match for your project – congrats!
Hope this can spark up some useful publicity/connections for the book project as well.
Good luck with more work.
anton
April 13, 2011 at 16:15 //
Hey Bjarte,
Yes indeed, I hope to get some synergy going here, who knows what it will lead to… The thing that will be hardest for me is “getting the word out there”… so hard, so uncontrollable… I so much more enjoy making images than talking about them… but I’ll go for it nonetheless, and I hope it’ll work out. I’m gonna ask EVERYONE to help me spread the word very very soon ;-)
cheers,
a
Bjarte Edvardsen
April 14, 2011 at 14:34 //
I know what you mean – talking & writing about the work is trickier than the work itself.
I’d be happy to spread the word about the project via twitter and facebook.
Keep us updated :)
anton
April 16, 2011 at 01:26 //
Hey Bjarte,
cool… and thanks… spreading the word is the biggest power of them all
will do a post soon with many more details about the book, stay tuned…
cheers, a
Mike R
April 13, 2011 at 21:02 //
Fantastic news Anton, congratulations! The best news was that they contacted you! The layout in the magazine and the slideshow look great and the teaser for 893 issue 2 will lead many to your website.
Best,
Mike.
anton
April 14, 2011 at 01:21 //
Hey Mike,
Yeah it’s great to be contacted as opposed to “seeking”… I wish it would happen more often!
ps thanks for the mention on BURN….
a
Sam Harris
April 14, 2011 at 03:45 //
Hey Anton!
Great DPS, great work… been really inspired by all your energy in what your doing. Love the project and how your photography has progressed. Lovely design on your book too… keep on keeping on –
Sam
anton
April 16, 2011 at 01:17 //
Hey Sam,
thanks for the kind words… I hope my photography keeps on progressing! The last 2 years feel like a roller coaster ride… and hopefully it’s for the good :-)
hope all is well at your end
cheers,a
eva
April 14, 2011 at 09:00 //
Calling my mom, she’ll getting a copy for me.. really curious to read the article, I fully understand what you say about handing over the pictures to somebody and not writing the text yourself (understood that correctly?), it’s very sensitive.. great job, Anton! :)
anton
April 16, 2011 at 01:22 //
Eva,
Yes I did not write the text on this one. For me it’s always the first question, if someone wants to use my images with their own words, what exactly the context is (in this case “the history of organized crime” is perfect)… if the context is right and the people professional, it’s a big relief. I’m always nervous to see the first draft of my images and their text in the full layout, because only then can you grasp the full extent of everything.
But I never had a doubt with GEO :-)
cheers, a
Thomas Bregulla
April 17, 2011 at 12:12 //
Anton,
I bought the magazine here in Germany. Great!
and yes, spreading the word is the least I could do :)
anton
April 17, 2011 at 17:03 //
Hey Thomas,
yes I figured you’d be able to see it “live” cos you’re in Germany… i hope it looks good!
cheers for spreading the word… a
Sam Harris
April 17, 2011 at 15:17 //
Anton,
yeah, thanks, all is good… i have my first exhibition (solo) in a few weeks time in Sydney’s Head On festival… i’ve also been selected as a finalist in the portrait prize and i’ll be giving a talk at the weekend seminar! which i’m kinda dreading… super busy – as the large shadow of the deadline approaches fast…
cheers, Sam
anton
April 17, 2011 at 17:04 //
Sam…. best of luck amigo…. I did a talk a while ago which I also dreaded up front, but once talking I (and the audience) had super fun…. a
Aristarkhos
August 31, 2011 at 20:42 //
I hope I haven’t missed this story. I do not pick up every issue of GEO India, which publishes most of the stories Germany does.
tom
September 1, 2011 at 01:28 //
wow, some of these took my breath away. I wish these were stills for a docu/film
Daren Afshar
September 2, 2011 at 06:07 //
Nicely done, Anton.
Alex
October 4, 2011 at 17:19 //
hello,Anton
I am a chinese students.Recently I’ve read some news about your works which reveal part of Yakuza.I’m interested in gangdom in Japan because it represents mystery 、honor and ranking.As far as I know,gangdom in Japan is quite different from gangdom in other countries,at least in China,they seldom bully people and some of them have also become politicians legally.So,I wonder how to get your works in China.BTW,there are only some pictures could be seen on Internet for free but they don’t have any annotates.
anton
October 4, 2011 at 22:21 //
Dear Alex,
Thank you for your kind message… Yes indeed Yakuza is very different from other gangs in the world… PS if you want to buy the book, you can do it easily here, I also ship to China: http://www.antonkusters.com/2011/09/07/the-2nd-edition-of-yakuza-i-heed-your-call/
cheers,
anton
Alex
October 5, 2011 at 13:46 //
Hey,Anton
Thanks for your answer.I think I’d like to buy the 2nd edition in amazon after they publish on October 30th.
I’m also very happy that you reply me so fast,you know,it’s the first time that I’ve made a dialog with a foreigner.Now since part of your works have been shown in Netease which is one of the most popular website in China,more and more Chinese people will get access to knowing your works and I’m sure they will like them.
BTW,could you tell me how much the 2nd editon is in Europe.I just contrast the price between China and Europe.
PS: here is ther websit address of your works in China :http://news.163.com/photoview/3R710001/17839.html
anton
October 10, 2011 at 13:36 //
Dear Alex,
I will not sell my book via amazon… it will be only on my website. So this is the only place that you can buy it… unless a few specialty bookstores, or if someone decides to sell a used copy of course…
Thank you for the link to 163.com!
cheers,
anton