Announcing the Release Date of Publication from Sigma Foundation Julia Hetta - Songen in Japan

Kanagawa, Japan - Sigma Foundation (Location: Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Chairperson: Kazuto Yamaki) is pleased to announce that the release date of photo book "Songen" by Julia Hetta in Japan is Thursday March 26, 2026.

About Songen

Julia Hetta is a Swedish photographer renowned for her quiet, painterly compositions. Shaped by an acute sensitivity to natural light, her images possess a restrained yet unmistakable force, earning her wide international acclaim.

Her latest work, Songen, was produced as part of the Sigma Foundation and its residency program in Aizu, Japan─home to Sigma's only manufacturing facility. Accompanied by her longtime friend and former assistant, Shin Yatagai, she traveled to Aizu for the first time.

As she moved between her native Sweden and the unfamiliar landscape of Aizu, Hetta discovered unexpected points of resonance between the two places. In this shifting context, roles quietly reversed: Shin, once an outsider in Hetta's home city of Stockholm, became the host in Aizu. Through this subtle inversion, Hetta re-engaged with Shin's character and way of thinking, arriving at a shared sensibility shaped by nature, silence, dignity, and mutual respect.

The word "songen" (dignity in Japanese) emerged naturally from Shin's inner reflections, and has a serendipitous connection to the word "sången" (song in Swedish). It became both the title of the book and the key concept running through the work.

The relationship between Julia and Shin, and that between Sweden and Aizu in Japan, are woven together through her fundamental approach to image-making─working with nothing but herself and the camera. From this origin, a quiet and beautiful saga unfolds.

Information about the publication
Publisher: Sigma Foundation
Photographer: Julia Hetta
Art direction and design: Greger Ulf Nilson
Edited and sequenced: Greger Ulf Nilson, Gunlab
Executive Producer: Stockholm Design Lab
Pages: 96 pages
Printing: Hakko Bijutsu
ISBN: 978-4-911681-01-5
Size: 31.4x21.6x1.6 cm
Price: 55 EUR incl.VAT
Distribution: Idea Books

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK HERE

Stockists

Sigma Online Shop https://www.sigma-onlineshop.jp/
SALT AND PEPPER http://www.sandp.tokyo/
Sioribi https://sioribi.jp/
POST http://post-books.info/
Gallery5 http://www.gallery-5.jp/
BIBLIOTHECA https://shop-jp.doverstreetmarket.com/en/collections/bibliotheca
Post Architecture Books https://post-architecture-books.com/en
title: https://www.instagram.com/title_the.me/
And others
(As of March 25, 2026 / In no particular order)
Please note that the list of stockists is subject to change without notice and new retailers may be added over time.

Sigma Foundation
Founded by Sigma president Kazuto Yamaki in 2025, the Sigma Foundation serves as a dedicated way for Sigma to support and promote contemporary photography. In its first year, the foundation collaborated with world-renowned photographers Sølve Sundsbø and Julia Hetta to produce two photobooks featuring work by both artists.

Sigma is a Japanese manufacturer of photographic lenses and cameras. Guided by the philosophy, "The Art of engineering, Engineering for Art," the company strives to create uncompromising optical technology for artists, creatives, and professionals across all visual media.
www.sigma-global.com/en/art-projects

Contact
Sigma Foundation info@sigma-foundation.com