76 Years of Railway Photography: Naotaka Hirota's Photobook "Railway Photography" to be Released

Canon Marketing Japan Inc. (President and CEO: Masachika Adachi) will release "Railway Photography," a photobook by photographer Naotaka Hirota, as the 21st installment of the "PHOTOGRAPHERS’ ETERNAL COLLECTION" series of photobooks by renowned photographers, starting May 14, 2026.

PHOTOGRAPHERS’ ETERNAL COLLECTION Vol.21 Naotaka Hirota Railway Photography

■ About the Photobook

For 76 years, ever since he first photographed a railway in his third year of junior high school, he has continuously refined railway photography as his lifelong expression, with the tension and joy of the moment he pressed the shutter as his origin.

His journey, which has captured the power and beauty of railways with bold and sophisticated compositions, elevating railway photography into a unique realm of expression, has influenced many photographers. This work, "Railway Photography," includes a total of 70 pieces, comprising not only his representative works but also new works that view railways as art.

It is a culmination that demonstrates the current state of expression achieved by a photographer who, at over 90 years old, continues to stand on the front lines, and it is a book that points to the future.

Printing and binding are performed using Canon's professional photo printer "DreamLabo 5000." It pursues a wide color reproduction, precise resolution, and three-dimensional effect through tonal expression in dark areas, allowing you to fully enjoy his works.

■ Product Overview

○ Name: PHOTOGRAPHERS’ ETERNAL COLLECTION Vol.21 Naotaka Hirota Railway Photography

○ Format: 240mm square, 80 pages, raster, in a decorative box

○ Special Offer: Includes one 240mm square original print with the photographer's autograph

○ Price: 29,150 yen (tax included, shipping included) *Made-to-order

○ Release: May 14, 2026 (Thursday)

○ Sales: Canon Online Shop (Limited sale of 500 copies)

○ URL: https://personal.canon.jp/product/photo-collection/photographers-e-collection/21-tetsudo-shashin

Original print with Naotaka Hirota's autograph

■ Online Talk Stream with the Artist

To commemorate the release of "Railway Photography," a talk event will be streamed featuring Naotaka Hirota and Kan Mimura, who designed this photobook. They will discuss episodes from when the works included in this photobook were photographed. Please be sure to watch.

〇 Stream Date: May 14, 2026 (Thursday)

〇 Viewing URL: It will be added to the "Playlist" at the following URL.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSzzdEBt6J3ihSpGvPMTaWbdlVO_aybUc

■ Photo Exhibition "Railway Photography" at Gallery S

The Naotaka Hirota Photo Exhibition "Railway Photography" will be held at Canon Gallery S on the 1st floor of Canon S Tower starting May 14, 2026. Limited quantities will also be sold on-site during the gallery talk, so please stop by.

〇 Exhibition Period: May 14, 2026 (Thursday) - June 22, 2026 (Monday)

○ Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:30

○ Closed Days: Sundays and national holidays

○ Venue: Canon Gallery S (Address: Canon S Tower 1F, 2-16-6 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

○ Access: Approximately 8 minutes walk from JR Shinagawa Station Konan Exit, approximately 10 minutes walk from Keikyu Shinagawa Station

○ Admission Fee: Free

〇 Photo Exhibition Details URL: Please proceed from the following URL.

https://personal.canon.jp/event/photographyexhibition/gallery/hirota-tetsudo

■ Artist Message

When I was in my third year of junior high, I photographed my beloved railways for the first time. The tension and joy of touching the shutter, and the happiness of being praised by my father for my work, became the driving force to continue taking railway photographs.

76 years have passed since then.

I have created my own expression, treating railway photography as art. This is the result of continuing to do what I love, as I love it.

From now on, there will be no change in my dedication to photographing railways. As long as life continues.

■ Artist Profile

Naotaka Hirota

Born in Tokyo in 1935. Developed an interest in railways from an early age and started photographing them in his third year of junior high. After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Chuo University, he worked for a company before becoming a freelance photographer. His first solo exhibition "Steam Locomotives" held in 1968 received a great response, and since then, he has been active as a leading figure in the railway photography world. He has led the Japanese railway photography world, including serving as the first chairman of the Japan Railway Photographers' Association. His nickname is "God of Railway Photography." In 2023, he received the "Hidayanosuke-emon Award" at the 39th Higashikawa Photo Festival. He has published over 250 books to date.