Hi,
this young model is Natasha_Prozorova (Russia). The photographer is Shopken Takahasi. He photographed her for the magazine Bishojo Kiko 11 1996.
Kurt
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http://auctions.canadaspace.com/detail_product/350568046742/SHOKEN_TAKAHASHI_
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SHOKEN TAKAHASHI "Bishoujo-Kiko Max Russia" Rare Nude Photo Book[/TD]
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Shoken TAKAHASHI, photographer. "Bishojo Kiko Max, 20 Girls in Russia."
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Japan: 1996, First Edition, OOP, PB, 30 cm x 22 cm, 146 pp, color photos.
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Condition: Very Good.
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Comments: The gold standard in Japanese Photo Mook Series. In the popular “exotica” style where the Japanese photographer journeys to an exotic land and finds beautifully innocent(?) women to photograph. Bishojo Kiko ran from 1994 to 1999 with a total of 29 volumes. The easing of censorship standards in Japan fortuitously combined with the opening of the Iron Curtain. Notorious and controversial photographer Shoken Takahashi journeyed to numerous European countries during the series to audition beauties. Countries represented in the series include Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary, Estonia, Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Finland, Norway, Sweden.
Each photo book follows a general pattern: 4 or 5 models with at least one of the models of the Hamilton/Bourboulon/Sturges/Ishikawa style - sometimes more. If you love any of those photographers you definitely want to collect this series. Generally speaking, as the Bishojo Kiko series went on, the more of the Bourboulon style models were included and became more of the promotion for the Mooks. Which is why volumes become rarer and more expensive as they get into the teens and twenties. I have seen copies of the last ten volumes priced well above a hundred dollars.
The original volumes were in groups of 3 or 4 from one city, country or region, each volume containing 4 or 5 models with at least one of the models of the Hamilton/Bourboulon/Sturges style - sometimes more. Later, the models were revisited in "Max" volumes that were larger and thicker than than the original periodicals. This Max volume contains new photos of all of the models from the Russia Volumes 8, 9, 10 and 11. The Max volumes seem to be even scarcer than the original numbered series volumes.
20 Models: Anya Polezhaeva, Elena Volgina, Marina Dolmatova, Elena Krasko, Inga Zholob, Olga Ermolaeva, Maria Smirnova, Sveta Bolohovets, Julia Tikholoz, Tanya Ignatyeva, Svetrana Razareva, Chekmanova Tatiana, Kondrashova Veronica, Volkonskaya Ksenia, Zavidonova Katya, Butuzova Galina, Volkova Maria, Dyachkova Ksenia, *****Prozorova Natasha*****, Ivanova Sveta.
The volumes of Russian models are some of the most prized from the series. Probably since about half of the models in this volume are along Bourboulon lines.
This import photo-book was only published in Japan and it is certain to never be reprinted. [/TD]
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