Vanishing Neon: Fading Neon – Tombstones of Light – A Photobook Capturing Memories of Hong Kong | Sohjiroh Yamagata’s First Collection | A4 format, 52 pages, full colour, 4th edition.

The lights of Hong Kong faded quietly into the night.

 Once upon a time, countless neon signs illuminated the city’s night sky.

A landscape of light that lit up the city that never sleeps and was etched into people’s memories.

They were not merely signs.

They were hope and aspiration; they were the very heartbeat of Hong Kong.

In the mere ten years since the 2010 building regulations, 90 per cent of them have been removed.

The million-dollar night view is quietly returning to darkness.

Yet one photographer continued to watch over the moment those lights faded.

‘Vanishing Neon: Fading Neon – Tombstones of Light – Engraving the Memories of Hong Kong’ Having lived in Hong Kong for 20 years and practised photography for 15, this is the first self-published photo book by Japanese photographer Sojiro Yamagata. This is the fourth edition (printed in batches of 50 copies)

── Only after losing it did I realise the meaning of light. In 2005, I moved to Hong Kong as a white-collar worker in the property industry. One day, the camera on my iPhone changed my life. Before I knew it, the smartphone had turned me into a photographer. Days spent walking the streets and pressing the shutter. The photos I posted on Instagram (@zirosou) captured the hearts of 53,000 people. But over the last few years, I’ve noticed something strange. When I visited my usual shooting spots, the neon signs that had been there just yesterday were gone. The scenes I loved had been completely demolished, leaving no trace. ‘Those neon signs were my motivation.’ It was only after they had vanished that I finally realised the true nature of what I had been pursuing.

── Capturing light that can never be captured again in this single volume. By 2020, 90 per cent of Hong Kong’s neon signs had vanished. Government amendments to building regulations, ageing structures and safety concerns. A silent death sentence in the name of the changing times. Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui. Scenes that can only be seen in this photo book.

── There is no longer any light on the street corners that were once awash with neon. The 52 photographs contained in this book are all records of light that ‘can never be captured again’. Their value lies not merely in their status as historical documents; they are a visual archive of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage.

── As monuments of light, where do the dismantled neon signs go? Some are housed in museums, but many have been discarded. This photobook is a ‘Monument of Light’, and also a tombstone that eternally captures the final glow of the lights that once illuminated the city. Memories of light are revived with every turn of the page. It quietly questions the significance of what the city of Hong Kong has lost, and what we have lost.

── A Message to the Future “Please do not forget this light.” So that people 100 or 200 years from now may know that the city of Hong Kong once boasted such a beautiful neon nightscape. A record of love and respect for the fading light. Passing on memories to the next generation.

── A Message from the Photographer “A photographic journey that began with a smartphone. Before I knew it, I had been captivated by neon as a subject. Before they were dismantled, at the moment of dismantling, and after they had been dismantled. I have continued to document it all. This photo book is the culmination of my 15 years of work, and at the same time, a letter of gratitude to Hong Kong. I hope that everyone who picks up this book will be able to relive the ‘world of light’ that once existed in Hong Kong.”

── Sohjiroh Yamagata (@zirosou)

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商品詳細 / Product Details

 English 

A4 (210×297mm) 
52 pages 
Perfect bound, softcover 
Full color 
Approx. 350g 
Bilingual (JP/EN) 
2026 First Edition
ISBN  To be assigned |

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About the Artist

Sohjiroh Yamagata

A Japanese photographer based in Hong Kong for 20 years, with 15 years of photographic experience.

Inspired to pursue photography through smartphone cameras, Sohjiroh has dedicated his work to documenting Hong Kong's night scenes, particularly neon signs facing demolition. With 53,000 followers on Instagram (@zirosou), he shares vanishing Hong Kong landscapes with a global audience.

the removal of neon signs in recent years, he realized: "I only understood their meaning after the neon died." This realization drove him to create his first self-published photo book, Vanishing Neon, compiling 15 years of photographic records to preserve Hong Kong's memory for future generations.

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Items are dispatched from Hong Kong.
We deliver to the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia.
A flat-rate shipping fee of HK$150 applies; items are sent via e-express.
Delivery takes 10–20 days, depending on the region (standard air post with tracking).
Packaging consists of a waterproof OPP bag and a cardboard box.
Customs duties are payable by the recipient.

We cannot accept returns for reasons attributable to the customer.

We will issue a full refund for any damage occurring during delivery.

Purchase limit: One copy per customer (to ensure fair distribution)
- Limited fourth edition: 50 copies Available while supplies last.