DIE BILDER UBER DIE STRAFE UND ABNORMER GESCHLECHSTRIEB – Ito Seiu

Published Wakamiya Publishing Co.- 1971 – Japan
18,8 x 26,1 cm – 600 pages in black & white / color – Hardbound with slipcase

Japanese, Latin, English language

Original edition 1930, this is a reprint from 1977.

This hefty, hardcover book comes encased in a slipcase adorned with silver printing. Inside, you’ll find a diverse array of images depicting punishment, torture, and execution from various time periods and regions across the globe. Roughly half of the content is European, featuring notable events like the execution of Damiens, which may ring a bell for readers familiar with the opening pages of Foucault’s “Discipline and Punish.” Of particular interest to this blog are the numerous historical depictions of hojojutsu, with the final section showcasing several works by Itoh Seiu, including captivating photographs of binding rituals set against snowy landscapes. This section concludes with a commentary by Itoh Seiu himself, reflecting on themes of kinbaku and seme/cruelty in both theatrical and criminal contexts.