SKU: 17776301824

A RUDE AWAKENING - Hajime Matsumoto

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Description

A RUDE AWAKENING - Hajime MatsumotoHajime Matsumoto is an 18 year old student who photographs raw, unfiltered scenes from his everyday life and the people he encounters. He is currently studying at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Using a Nikon EM with a 28mm lens and Tri X 400, he documented moments from his school life. This book is his debut publication, produced as a hardcover edition using the money he had saved since childhood from otoshidama a Japanese New Year tradition in which

Hajime Matsumoto is an 18-year-old student who photographs raw, unfiltered scenes from his everyday life and the people he encounters. He is currently studying at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Using a Nikon EM with a 28mm lens and Tri-X 400, he documented moments from his school life. This book is his debut publication, produced as a hardcover edition using the money he had saved since childhood from otoshidama — a Japanese New Year tradition in which children receive small cash gifts from their families. By investing those personal savings, he chose to turn his first body of work into a physical book.

 

Statement

For six years, Japanese high school was a loop. Hanging out with the same people, in the same halls, following the same schedule. But when senior year started, I began to see this stagnant life slipping away. This small shift motivated me to start documenting it before it ended.

But my mundane school life somehow became absurd once I photographed it. My photographs captured what was hidden beneath my routine life. The raw energy, pride, and intensity of adolescent life masked by the submissive expectations of a Japanese student. 

I aimed to actualize my own truth with my camera. I photographed on instinct, relentlessly and intrusively. Before I even realized it, I became both a participant and an observer in my own life. My photographs confronted me. I realized the only difference between my high school and a prison was the people locked up inside it. We didn’t choose to be locked up, the only freedom we had was the life we made for ourselves. Our innate youthfulness was the catalyst that kept us somewhat sane.

 

Book Details

  • Photos by Hajime Matsumoto
  • 215 x 303mm
  • 54 pages
  • Hardcover
  • Signed
  • Published in 2025
  • Printed in Japan

 

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SKU: 17776301824

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K. Rogers
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Love it
Format: Kindle
Very cute, the plot is great, and the art is amazing I just love this book. It is one of my favourite graphic novels
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Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2021
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courtney
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 3
the art is great and really helps to set the scene of this ...
Format: Paperback
It's cute book. the art is great and really helps to set the scene of this magical world. I took issue with the characters and the narrative. The main character is a werewolf who is very self conscious about it but it's never really clear since apparently, there are not only plenty of werewolves but also people who can shift into other animals. Her best friend is a centaur who I found a little grating with his "lol XD so random" personality. I didn't find much fault with the girlfriend character but I didn't understand their relationship. the main character starts the book having had one date with her girlfriend they seem to have some issues (over what I thought was very minor things) and decide at the end of the book to go to couple's therapy to solve them but like, they weren't together for that. I assume maybe a month has passed, just break up. I just didn't understand that. The narrative itself didn't seem tight. One character has cryptic visions that didn't really seem to pan out or really have the gravity she seemed to put to them. there is a meta narrative involving a book the main character likes and the events in that book mirror the events in the comic but I didn't really see it that strongly and it seemed to have little use. The main conflict seems to be solved very quickly and with little fanfare. All in all, it's not a bad book. i just found it a bit weak. It's not amazing, nor above average. But it's also not garbage or terrible. It's won't have the greatest of appeal but I'm not upset I bought it and it's not a waste of time. However, I wouldn't read any additional work of this series.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
K
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Kendra
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Obsessed
Format: Kindle
I really hope there will be more of this comic coming soon. It was so well thought out. The colors were incredible. The fluidity of every character was great. Enjoyed this so very much.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2019
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Elizabeth
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Great book
Format: Paperback
I LOVE THIS BOOK. It’s supper cute and fun. The art work is great and so is the writing. I couldn’t find anything wrong with the book.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2019
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AnnaStone
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Fabtastic!
Format: Paperback
Absolutely loved this. Definitely worth getting.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2023

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