Three books, "as seen" and "as is."
When we asked him for three books he would recommend to Huinam readers, he simply said, "Well then, this one, this one, and this one," and pulled them out from his bookshelf. The choice of each book is typical of Saito, who likes books that capture the period and the subject without too much subjectivity from the creator.
Book 1: A collection of photos of real food and women that will make you feel like you are traveling in America.
PLATES+DISHES" STEPHAN SCHACHER
I bought this book because it was on sale and was cheap at 1,800 yen. I bought it because it was on sale for 1,800 yen, and I couldn't resist. I like the informality of the photos. It's like, "Oh, she's such an old lady. It's fun just to look at them.
A photo journal of roadside diners, their food, and their signature girls as the photographer travels across the United States. Local maps and food receipts are included at the end of the book. Paperback / 24.8 x 20 cm / 184 pages / Princeton Architectural Press
Book 2: Japan in the Meiji Era as Seen from a Foreigner's Perspective
Japan One Hundred Years Ago: The Morse Collection, Shiro Konishi ( ed. ), Hideyuki Oka ( ed. )
I had never been very interested in Japan until now, but I really wanted to have this book and got it a few years ago when I was thinking that I should learn a little about my own culture because it would be embarrassing if I remained ignorant of it. Foreigners come to Japan in these times and take pictures not of beautiful scenery or famous landmarks, but of ordinary people working in grocery stores or on the street. I sometimes wonder why he took these pictures, but you can tell that he put a lot of thought into each photograph and put them into the book.
This is the first collection of photographs of Dr. Morse's collection found in a museum in the port town of Salem on the East Coast of the United States, and the first collection of his work to be researched and introduced to Japan. Hardcover/chrysanthemum size double/216 pages/Shogakukan
Book 3: French children's retro vision of the future
Aux enfants de la lune" Sephane Frattini
This French book focuses on the toys and stationery favored by French children circa "the fifties. I wonder if it is edited from the point of view of an adult looking back on his or her own childhood. Anyway, the design is good and the production is elaborate, with some of the covers in glossy binding. I wish they did other books this well."
The book focuses on 50 items of things that French children were passionate about during the 50s and 60s. The title of the book means "Children of the Moon," and as the name suggests, motifs such as tin rockets, robots, and ray guns appear in the book. The futuristic visions that children of that time were so enthusiastic about have become nostalgic from today's viewpoint, but they still sparkle with hope. Hardcover / 31x25cm / 133 pages / Milan
In addition to the books mentioned in the article, Saito's bookshelves were filled with magazines and books that were epoch-making in their respective eras. Even in his 70s, Saito continues to seek out and acquire new musicians' CDs. Saito's sensibility keeps him five years ahead of Japanese trends because of his curiosity to keep up with what's happening in Japan and abroad.
Hisao Saito
Born in Tokyo in 1945. After dropping out of Nihon University, he moved to the United States. After graduating from the Men's Fashion Institute, he joined the apparel manufacturer Samsung Clothing Co. In 1979, he launched his own brand, "TUBE," and also worked as an advisor and director for major select stores and numerous brands. He has also worked as an advisor and director for a number of major boutiques and brands.
