Production period

1967-1970

Publications

Himalayas Japanese ed. (1971)
Shogakukan Inc. (price 28,000JPY)

The Cliff of Gods Japanese ed. (1971)
Asahi Shimbun Company (price 28,000JPY)

Himalayas Special Edition Japanese ed. (1975)
Shogakukan Inc. (price 7,200JPY)

Himalayas Deluxe Edition American ed. (1973)
Harry N, Abrams Company

Himalayas Deluxe Popular Edition American ed. (1977)
Harry N, Abrams Company

Himalayas High Quality Edition American ed. (1986)
Harry N, Abrams Company

Himalayas Italian ed. (1976) Arnold Mondadori Company

Himalayas Indian ed. (1977) Vikas Company

Himalayas German ed. (1977) Bibliothk Company

Previously, photographic collections of the Himalayas have been composed of only pictures taken in the partial area of Annapurna Himal, Nepal where no permission for entering a mountain is needed. Shirakawa's Himalayas was the first time that the great Himalayas, stretching 3000km from Bhutan to Afghanistan, had been photographed. It is worth mentioning that in both countries, Nepal and Afghanistan, an aircraft was provided, and for the first time ever, aerial photographs of the Himalayas in Nepal and the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan were taken. (Incidentally, the King of Afghanistan sought asylum in Italy six months after the shooting). His Majesty, the King of Nepal wrote a preface for the collection of works Himalayas. It was the first time in history that a head of state had written a preface for an individual publication.

For 15 days, from 4-19 December 1979, "'The Cliff of Gods', Yoshikazu Shirakawa's Himlayas Exhibition of Photographs,"" was held at Odakyu Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo. It was a large exhibition of photographs covering more than 200m of wall, composed of 102 works including ten works of the size 3m x 4m. It was a one-man show of Mr. Shirakawa and 156,000 people visited his exhibition of photographs. There was no precedent, at least in Japan, where more than 10,00 people a day visited a one-man exhibition of any artistic genre. Such an event was astonishing.

The book was widely praised by the American media. The New York Times in a critical review of the American edition of Himalayas wrote (2 December 1973): "If we were to try to hit upon a man to obtain a picture of God, it would need to be Shirakawa. At a minimum, a monumental, smashing book." The review concluded, "This collection of photographs is an immortal, astonishing book." The Washington Post (9 December) wrote ""A show-off Christmas present that will exhaust the verbal resources of whoever gets it." The Christian Science Monitor (15 December) commented that, "the fact that it is written to satisfy a personal taste is one of the hallmarks of your true coffee table book." For the Denver Post " (25 December), Himalayas was the "ultimate book about the ultimate in terrestrial grandeur." The Los Angeles Times (8 December) wrote of "Yoshikazu Shirakawa's incredible book of photographs, Himalayas." Finally, for the Boston Evening Globe, (23 December): "This monumental work is worth its weight in gold."

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PREFACE HIS MAJESTY THE KING
TO THE BOOK "HIMALAYA" BY MR.SHIRAKAWA

The attempt made by the author Mr.Shirakawa to acquaint the people at large with the unique beauty of the Himalayan mountain-ranges spreading over 1500 miles, is commendable.

The Himalayan mountain-range is of much significance from various view-points．It is a natural centre of attraction to explorers vishing to climb the highest peak on the earth. This region has been regarded as the great store-house of alpine fauna and flora. For the great saints and learned people who like and seek solitude there is hardly a place more suitable than the Himalayas. From another view-point, it can be fancied that the lofty peaks of Himalayan mountain-range stand as a symbol of prayer and worship to the Creator Lord of the earth or it can be regarded as an everlasting emblem indicating that created beings should rise higher than the terrestrial consciousness. The water resources flowing out of these mountain-ranges have sanctified this entire region. Truly speaking, the Himalayas occupy an ineffable position for all living-beings dwelling on its shade. Gautam Buddha contributed to the world the light of Knowledge from his sheltering place under the domain of the great Himalayas.The Vedas Puranas and Upanashids including the Mahabharata-all these sacred books Speak very highly of the Himalayas and are full of descreptive proof regarding the significance of the mountain-ranges.

This book is full of photographs. I believe, overcoming the difficulties born of differences in language, customs and manners, and anthropology with photographs as its media, the book will help a lot in enlightening the people at large on the grandeur and greatness of the Himalayas and the out-look of the people dwelling in its region. I heartily appreciate the author's efforts.

July 27, 1970

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