Sony Music Entertainment Japan's New Gallery has announced the highly anticipated global release of NINE STORIES, a photobook collection capturing Hikaru Utada's groundbreaking SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024. Available starting 21 March, the collection celebrates 25 years since Utada's debut and marks their first nationwide tour in six years.

NINE STORIES brings together the talents of nine esteemed photographers—Kazuhei Kimura, Chikashi Suzuki, Mayumi Hosokura, Rinko Kawauchi, Daido Moriyama, John Yuyi, Wing Shya, Takashi Homma, and Rika Noguchi—each assigned to a specific city visited on the tour. These photographers present their unique interpretations of Utada’s performances through themes such as "Observation," "Physicality," "Radiance," and "Presence." Their images collectively form a rich visual narrative that captures the tour's emotional intensity and artistic depth.

Inspired by J.D. Salinger’s Nine Stories, this collection embodies the essence of storytelling. Each photographer offers a lens into a particular moment, presenting a tapestry of live performance and musical expression that highlights Utada’s connection with their audience.

The photobook not only immortalizes this chapter of Utada's journey but also serves as a tribute to their enduring influence as an artist. Through this collaboration, a new dimension of live performance photography emerges, ensuring Utada's legacy continues to resonate for generations.To commemorate the release, New Gallery in Jimbocho, Tokyo, will host a special photography exhibition from 7 March to 30 March. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive original prints of select works showcased in the collection.

Nine Cities, Nine Perspectives

1. Fukuoka: Kazuhei Kimura - Observation
2. Aichi: Chikashi Suzuki - Fragments (Part of)
3. Saitama: Mayumi Hosokura - Physicality
4. Miyagi: Rinko Kawauchi - Radiance
5. Tokyo: Daido Moriyama - Relationships
6. Taipei: John Yuyi - Self-Projection
7. Hong Kong: Wing Shya - Kaleidoscope
8. Osaka: Takashi Homma - Simultaneity
9. Kanagawa: Rika Noguchi - Presence

For more details and pre-orders, visit the special NINE STORIES website: https://newgallery-tokyo.com/ninestories.