The Spark: From Festival to Routine
The idea for a monthly meetup didn’t appear out of thin air. It was born from a desire—perhaps a stubborn refusal—to let go of something special. After we wrapped up the Ephemere Photo Fest at Gallery Conceal in October, I felt a lingering energy in the space. We had created this beautiful, temporary world of photography in Shibuya, and I couldn’t bear the thought of it simply evaporating once the exhibition walls were taken down.
In fact, I wanted to leave a mark. I immediately rented a shelf right there in the gallery to house the Ephemere Photo Book Library—a semi-permanent space where our books are now available for public browsing. Since the books had found a home there, it only made sense to bring the community back to where the work lives.
I initially looked for existing communities to join. I knew that “Photo Book Clubs” exist in major cities globally, but after doing some research, I realized the Tokyo chapter hadn’t been active in a while. I briefly considered waiting or trying to revive the old chapter, but I realized that momentum is fragile. I didn’t want to wait. I felt a gut instinct that people in Tokyo were looking for something like this right now.
So, I decided to just go with it.
To be honest, I was nervous. Even with an RSVP list, there is always that lingering fear: Will anyone actually show up? But as the first attendees started trickling into the café, that nervousness vanished, replaced by a buzz of excitement. We weren’t just strangers in a café anymore; we were a group united by a shared love for the printed image.
The Gathering: Coffee, Colors, and “Organized Fun”
Saturday noons are usually reserved for sleeping in, but I’m glad we gathered when we did. The setting at the Gallery Conceal was perfect—surrounded by comfortable sofas and a vibrant art show currently on the walls. The deal was simple: the event was free, but we supported our venue by buying coffee. As the aroma of fresh brew filled the air, the nervousness settled into a cozy, intimate focus.
Now, anyone who knows me knows that while I love a chill vibe, I channel a bit of Monica Geller when it comes to events. I love “organized fun.” With only three hours on the clock, I wanted to ensure we had a flow.
We started with introductions and book sharing. What surprised me most was the inclusivity of the circle. Some attendees brought more than one book, while others came empty-handed, just there to absorb the visuals. As we went around, I realized that asking someone to share their favorite photo book is like holding up a mirror to their creative soul. The choices revealed the attendees’ personalities and their unique approaches to photography in ways casual conversation never could.
What Everybody Brought
I want to document exactly what was brought to the table, because the mix was truly eclectic. It wasn’t just about famous titles; it was a blend of personal favorites, self-published works, and rare finds.
Atish Patel shared Smell on the Street by Hiroyoshi Yamazaki and Yellow Pages by Yuka Takasu.
Eda Emirdag shared her own works: Belly Button and this is not a toy book.
Ghia shared Miraichan by Kotori Kawashima.
Hanna Shapiro shared 人生ってなんだと思う? (What do you think life is?) by Osamu Yokonami.
Iga Drobisz shared Index, her self-published photobook.
Isshin Glen shared Into the Silence by Yasuhiro Ogawa and Wind Water by Palani Mohan.
Karina Saputri shared ことば (Words) by Koichiro Kimura, and On Street Photography and the Poetic Image by Alex Webb & Rebecca Norris.
Mako Shigishima shared Swimming Pool by Maria Svarbova.
Marie Coignus shared her own photography prints.
May Qin Chua shared her own photo zine.
Tracey Bornstein shared You’ve Loved Me Before by Shane Hallinan.
Yuri Inoue shared And Then by Bharat Sikka and Life’s a Beach by Martin Parr.
The Guest Spotlight
Our special guests, Yuri and Eda, brought incredible energy to the room. We originally met as co-exhibitors at the Planet of the Zines event in Harajuku, and I knew their contrasting styles would be perfect for this meetup.
Yuri kicked things off. Her work is colorful and design-focused, a stark contrast to my own black-and-white preference. True to the spirit of the meetup, she didn’t use a laptop; she presented using large, printed A3 cue cards. It was a tangible presentation for a tangible event.
Eda, visiting from Turkey, added a conceptual depth with her work on photograms and plastic surgery. She also shared a beautiful handmade book she created as a “gift to herself”—a single-copy project that reminded us that art doesn’t always have to be for mass consumption.
The Swap & The Aftermath
For the final hour, I introduced the Ephemere Photo Book Meetup Stamp Card for attendees to track their visits (and maybe earn a future gift!). Then, we dove into the Print Swap.
It was beautiful chaos. No tables, just people moving around, trading prints hand-to-hand. I provided plastic sleeves for protection, but the real value was the exchange of feedback and Instagram handles.
We had a hard stop at 3:00 PM for the café’s next event, but nobody wanted to leave. A group of us moved to a nearby Thai restaurant for a late lunch, keeping the conversation going over curry. That, to me, was the best feedback of all.
The Horizon: Reflections & What’s Next
Walking away from that first meetup, my biggest realization was a positive one: Tokyo needs this. There is a hunger for casual yet focused spaces where we can geek out over paper and ink.
In a time where algorithms dictate what we see, stepping into a room dedicated to physical books feels like a quiet act of rebellion. It’s about more than just looking at images; it’s about the smell of the ink, the texture of the paper, and the sound of pages turning.
It’s a visceral appreciation for the author’s labor that a screen simply cannot replicate. Being so immersed online, we sometimes forget how to just be with people. This meetup proved that having a physical anchor—even in the midst of Shibuya’s chaotic energy—allows for a vulnerability and connection that is rare to find.
I also realized that the photobook is the ultimate icebreaker. It allows even the most introverted among us to connect and find like-minded people because you don’t always need words; the visuals speak for you.
However, I did learn a few logistical lessons that I’ll be applying next time:
Documentation: Being the host and the photographer is a juggling act, so my goal for next time is to bring in some help for documentation so I can focus on facilitating.
Language Inclusivity: While this first session was English-heavy, I want to ensure this space is truly inclusive for Japanese speakers moving forward. Photography is a universal language, and we will make sure our environment welcomes everyone, using translation tools if we have to. We have the photos to save us, after all.
Flexibility: While Gallery Conceal is our home base for now, future meetups might move to new venues as we evolve to fit the group’s needs.
But the momentum is here, and we aren’t stopping.
Join Us for Meetup #2!
We are already set for December, and it’s going to be a special one to close out the year.
Date: Sunday, December 28th
Time: 3:00 PM onwards
Location: Gallery Conceal Shibuya (Gallery A)
Special Guests: Mingli Seet and Mika Otsuki
More details soon…
If you missed the first one, this is your chance to jump in. If you were there last time, bring your stamp card, and let’s fill another slot!