(SOLD):RUIKO, Yoshida. Hot Days in Harlem: Black is Beautiful.

(Tokyo): Kodansha, 1972.  First edition.  Softcover.  21cm by 15cm.  185 pages. Japanese text. The scarce first book by the photographer of Harlem: Black Angels, this describing her experiences in Harlem during the 1960s and 1970s.  The volume offers a vivid portrayal of Harlem’s daily life, emphasizing the beauty, resilience, and cultural richness of its Black community. Her photographs highlight both the joys and challenges faced by the community, providing a nuanced view that contrasts with the often negative stereotypes prevalent at the time. The images formed part of her exhibition Black is Beautiful at the Seibu department store in Sibuya in 1971.  A very good copy in photo-illustrated wrappers with obi.  Scarce, WorldCat locates a single copy at the National Diet Library in Japan.