Provoke 1 – editions 1968, 2001, 2018 (from left to right)

The Japanese photographers Yutaka Takanashi and Takuma Nakahira together with writer Takahiko Okada and critic Koji Taki founded the Provoke group in 1968. Their first publication was entitled PROVOKE 1 – Provocative Materials for Thought. This slim, square volume presents their manifesto on page two, followed by a poem from William Blake. The three photo essays are by Yutaka Takanashi, Koji Taki and Takuma Nakahira. Some of Nakahira’s pictures are also included in his seminal work For a Language to Come published in 1970. Yutaka Takanashi and Koji Taki’s photographic style vacillates between a more conventional approach and the type of high-contrast imagery which was to become the trademark of the Provoke group. Of all the photographers though, it is only Nakahira who produced work exclusively in the ‘Provoke’ style from the outset.

Photographs by Yutaka Takanashi, Koji Taki and Takuma Nakahira
Texts by Takahiko Okada and Koji Taki

Published by Provoke-sha, Tokyo, (self-published) 1st November 1968 in an edition of app. 300 copies

Soft cover

21 x 20.9cm

68 pages

Provoke 1, published 1968 back and front cover

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Provoke 1, published 1968

Yutaka Takanashi, Koji Taki, Takuma Nakahira, PROVOKE 1 – Provocative Materials for Thought, 2001

Provoke 1 published 2001 by Steidl / 7L back and front cover

Owing to copyright reasons this edition is missing the text by Takahiko Okada, hence eight fewer pages. During the book-binding process the images were cropped slightly more than in the original edition.

Published by Edition 7L in 2001 as part of “The Japanese box” in an edition of 1500 copies.

Distributed by Steidl

Soft cover

21 x 21cm

60 pages

Publishers website: Edition 7L

Yutaka Takanashi, Koji Taki, Takuma Nakahira, PROVOKE 1 – Provocative Materials for Thought, 2018

Provoke 1 published 2018 by Nitesha back and front cover

This reprint edition is very true to the original first publication from 1968. The complete set also includes an English / Chinese translation booklet.

Published by Nitesha 2018 as part of the complete reprint edition.

Soft cover

21 x 21cm

70 pages

Provoke complete reprint edition published 2018 by Nitesha. All three magazines plus translation booklet in plastic bag.

Publishers website: NITESHA

All provoke editions 1968/1969, 2001, 2018 (top to bottom)

All provoke editions 1968/1969, 2001, 2018 (top to bottom) spines

See these other PROVOKE – related publications:

Provoke 1, 1968

Provoke 2, 1969

Provoke 3, 1969

First, Throw Out Verisimilitude, 1970

Takuma Nakahira, For a Language to Come, 1970

Daido Moriyama, Bye bye photography, 1972

Yutaka Takanashi, TOWARDS THE CITY (TOSHI HE), 1974

Daido Moriyama, Japan; A photo theater, 1968

Guevara Shashinshu || Che (Che Guevara photo collection – ゲバラ写真集 || チェ), 1969