asterisk books, founded in 2017 by Daisuke Morishita, is a photobook label specializing in contemporary photography. Currently based in Chiba, near Tokyo, it explores the possibilities of photography through the concept of "pure photography," utilizing the medium in its simplest form. The label engages in photobook publishing, exhibitions, and lecture planning.

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The asterisk is a symbol derived from the Latin word for "star." In books, it is used to indicate annotations, citations, or rhythmic breaks. In the field of information processing, it serves as a wildcard, replacing unknown values and allowing the overall narrative to move forward.

Photography is a technique of quotation, translating what exists in reality into images. At the same time, it possesses the power to precede established perceptions. Thus, a single photograph does not necessarily need to have a fixed meaning.

We do not have a clear perception of the world as it is. Yet, we walk through each day and move our hands, sensing the potential for something new.

It could be a flower, a stone, or a star. It could be me, you, or someone else. The asterisk stands as a symbol for that indefinable something.

Daisuke Morishita