) is a celebrated photograph from his series documenting the intimate lives and community of Japanese female divers, known as Rikitake spent decades living among and photographing the
The "Friends Album" (often stylized as Friends Album By Yasushi Rikitake.54 ) is widely believed to be his magnum opus. The number "54" in the title has sparked endless debate among fans. Some argue it refers to the year of the photographer’s birth (1954), while others insist it is the number of original prints in the first edition, or even a reference to a famous Tokyo street corner. Rikitake himself has remained notoriously silent on the matter, feeding the mystique. Friends Album By Yasushi Rikitake.54
Unlike modern photobooks that often feature glossy, perfect-bound pages, the original Friends Album By Yasushi Rikitake.54 is deliberately unassuming. The first edition (1994, self-published) came in a matte, almost cardboard-like sleeve. The cover features a grainy, overexposed image of two young women laughing at a torii gate—their faces slightly blurred, as if caught mid-motion. ) is a celebrated photograph from his series
There are no captions. No names. Rikitake’s “friends” remain anonymous. This universality is the album’s greatest strength. The viewer projects their own lost friendships, their own youthful nights, onto each page. Rikitake himself has remained notoriously silent on the
Why the high price?