Kamikawa Aya 上川あや - A4 Riso Print (Signed and Numbered)
Kamikawa Aya 上川あや
First openly transgender person in Japan to be elected to public office
日本初の役人に選ばれたトランス・ジェンダーの政治家 (1968年1月25日– )
「本当は、市民として静かに暮らしたい。でもそれができない人がいるからやっぱり戦わなきゃ、と思って選挙に出ています。」
In a country where conformity is often regarded as a virtue, Kamikawa Aya who was assigned male at birth, made history when she publicly declared her identity as a woman and ran for office in Setagaya, Tokyo.
Making the decision to fully-transition to a woman in her mid-twenties brought her many hardships. She was met with resistance when renting apartments and applying for work. After reviewing her family identity documents, companies rejected her requests to work as a woman, and she could only find part-time positions where such documents were not mandatory.
When she first set out on the campaign trail, she found that many people were cold towards her, but as the campaign progressed, she found more and more support. Her platform was to improve rights for women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and LGBT people. In April 2003, she won a four-year term as an independent.
Kamikawa’s election may be a sign that Japan is beginning to shed its strict views on society and becoming more and more inclusive of different backgrounds, identities, and sexualities. As Kamikawa stated, "As long as we keep silent, nothing is going to change," she said. "We need the courage to make a society which respects diversity."
What is a riso print?
These prints use risograph technology, a method of printing developed in Japan in the mid-1980s. It can be described as a mix between screenprinting and photocopying. The risograph process produces prints with extremely vibrant, crisp inks, and sometimes these inks overlap during the printing process to create interesting and unique details. These soy-based inks also have a lower environmental impact.
Product details
Printed in Tokyo, Japan by Hand Saw Press print studio. Each print is A4 size (210 x 297 mm / 8.27 x 11.69 in) and printed on Natural White 186gsm Takeo Araveal paper. Acid-free and FSC Approved.
Each print is signed with a traditional Japanese ‘hanko’ artist stamp and hand-numbered from a limited edition of 20. Prints are packaged in cello bags with rigid cardboard inserts and shipped in flat mailers.
Please note that frames are not included.
Delivery times & prices
We ship worldwide. 日本へ国際郵便で送ります。
UK deliveries: 3-4 working days via Royal Mail 1st class
International deliveries available via Royal Mail International Standard Airmail
Prices calculated during checkout
For more information on shipping times for international deliveries, please check the delivery & returns page.
