Asada-ke

Asada-ke ("The Asada Family") is a photobook by Masashi Asada in which his family of four, father, mother, older brother and the photographer himself, dress up as ramen shop owners, firefighters, a yakuza family and more for staged commemorative portraits. Published by Akaaka Art Publishing in 2008, it received the Kimura Ihei Photography Award.

The story behind the book

Every picture was shot in the family's home prefecture of Mie, with help from many local people, over seven years. Alongside the role-play portraits are recreations of the moments before and after each shoot. The staging is clever, but what comes through is how close the family is, and the power a commemorative photograph can have.

The book became a bestseller, now in its ninth printing, and was made into the 2020 feature film The Asadas.

What is in the book

• Staged family portraits in many roles, plus scenes from before and after
• Two halves that read in opposite directions, left to right and right to left

About Masashi Asada

Masashi Asada received the Kimura Ihei Photography Award for this book.