FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02 October 2012
A Traveling Photography Exhibition
Metamorphosis of Japan After the War: 1945-1964
A retrospective review of the Japanese society
from 1945 to 1964
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in
cooperation with Consulate-General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City,
proudly present a photography exhibition “Metamorphosis of
Japan After the War: 1945-1964” from 17 October – 22 December
in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang.
This South-East and South Asia’s premier exhibition showcases 123
black-and white photographs by 11 renowned photographers to make a
retrospective review of the Japanese society with full of creativity and
energy during the turbulent period spanning from 1945 to 1964 that
followed the World War II.
In 1945, Japan made a new start as a defeated and devastated country after the WWII. However,
after only 20 or so years, the nation's society, economy, and culture underwent dramatic
transformations. For the purposes of this exhibition, we define the "postwar" era as the period
from the end of the war in 1945 to the year of the Tokyo Olympics, 1964, by which point the
Shinkansen bullet trains were running, and a plan to double national income had raised standards
of living, bringing consumer appliances such as TVs, washing machines, and refrigerators to a
large number of homes. The 11 photographers introduced here were each active in this period of
dramatic upheaval. Their work records the transformation of society, and many of the photographs
that they took are significant from an artistic perspective in addition to being important records.
The photographers selected are Ken Domon, perhaps the best-known Japanese photographer of
the 20th century for his cool-headed photo-realism, Ihee Kimura, whose approach to realism was
distinguished from Domon's by its unique aesthetics, Hiroshi Hamaya, who photographed the
climates and environments of mountain and agricultural villages together with the lives of their
inhabitants, Tadahiko Hayashi, who produced marvelous portraits, Shigeichi Nagano, Ikko
Narahara, Kikuji Kawada, Shomei Tomatsu, and Yasuhiro Ishimoto, who represent a younger
generation of photographers, and Eikoh Hosoe and Takeyoshi Tanuma, who were two of the
photographers who demonstrated the creativity of photography.
It is our hope that as viewers enjoy their undeniable attractiveness and power, these photographs
will also provide a starting point for thinking about the society of postwar Japan that was their
background. This exhibition will travel to three distinguished cities of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City
from 17 – 29 October at Ho Chi Minh City Museum (92 Le Thanh Ton, District 1), Hanoi from 20 –
29 November at Ngo Quyen Exhibition Hall (16 Ngo Quyen) and Danang from 13 – 22 December
at Danang Heritage Management Center (78 Le Duan). Free of admission.
For inquiries on the exhibition, please contact at:
Ms. Nha (Ext. 115) / Mr. Yoshioka (0123-384-4138)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam
TEL 04-3944-7419
www.jpf.org.vn
■ Exhibition information:
Organized by:
Co-organized by:
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
Consulate-General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
Curated by:
Tsuguo Tada, Marc Feustel
Ho Chi Minh City
Opening:
Duration:
Venue:
Hanoi
Opening:
Duration:
Venue:
Danang
Opening:
Duration:
Venue:
09:00 – Wednesday 17 October 2012
Wednesday 17 – Monday 29 October
[Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00, no closed days]
Ho Chi Minh City Museum
92 Le Thanh Ton, District 1, HCMC
18:00 – Tuesday 20 November 2012
Wednesday 21 – Thursday 29 November
[Opening hours: 08:30 – 17:30, no closed days]
Ngo Quyen Exhibition Hall
16 Ngo Quyen, Hanoi
17:00 – Thursday 13 December 2012
Friday 14 – Saturday 22 December
[Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00, no closed days]
Danang Heritage Management Center
78 Le Duan, Danang
■ Artists’ profiles:
Ihee Kimura (1901 - 1974)
Born in 1901 in Tokyo. Learns retail photography at the Endo Portrait Studio in Taiwan.
Returns to Japan, and opens a photo studio in 1924. Fascinated by the Leica owned by
the captain of the German Zeppelin dirigible that comes to Japan in 1929. Buys a Leica
Model A the following year, marking a new start in his photography. Hired the same
year as a part-timer in the advertising department of cosmetics company Kao Sekken
Nagase Shokai Co., Ltd. Starts publishing a monthly photo magazine Koga with Yasuzo
Nojima, Iwata Nakayama, and Nobuo Ina in 1932. Establishes Chuo Kobo with Nobuo
Ina and Hiromu Hara in 1934. Becomes one of the central figures in Japanese
photojournalism, together with Yonosuke Natori. After the war, continues to be active
in photography as a snapshot virtuoso. Elected chairman of newly formed Japan
Professional Photographers Society in 1950. Takes up the theme of Akita prefecture
farming villages in his photography in 1952. Wins the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize in
1956.
Ihee Kimura
by Takeyoshi Tanuma
Ken Domon (1909 – 1990)
Born in 1909 in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture. Moves to Tokyo in 1916. Studies as a
live-in apprentice at Kotaro Miyauchi Photo Studio in Ueno Ikenohata in 1933.
Develops doubts about retail photography and studies on his own with the aim of
getting into photojournalism. Joins Yonosuke Natori's Nippon Kobo in 1935, working
mainly on the photo magazine Nippon. Between 1936 and 1938, develops friendships
with Yusaku Kamekura, Shigeru Tamura, Shihachi Fujimoto, and Hiroshi Hamaya.
Starting in 1940, spends three years photographing Buddhist statues, from as far
north as Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture to the Usuki Stone Buddhas in
Oita Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu. From 1941 to 1942, photographs
the golden age of ningyo joruri bunraku, Japan's traditional puppet theater. After
the war, promotes the photo-realism movement and pursues projects grappling with
Ken Domon
by Hiromi Tsuchida
societal issues, such as Hiroshima, which deals with survivors of the atomic bomb, and
Chikuho no Kodomotachi, which captures the lives of poverty-stricken children in the Chikuho coalfields. In
later years, receives the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize, the Kikuchi Kan Prize, and, in
1974, the Medal with Purple Ribbon.
Tadahiko Hayashi (1918 – 1990)
Born in 1918 in Tokuyama, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Becomes familiar with
photography as a small child due to his family running a retail photo business from
his grandfather's generation. After graduating from Tokuyama Commercial School,
goes to work at a photo studio in Osaka run by Shoichi Nakayama in 1935. Contracts
tuberculosis and returns to his hometown for treatment. Goes to Tokyo in 1937 and
enters the Oriental School of Photography. After working for Tokyo Kogeisha, forms
the North China News Photography Association in 1942 and goes to Beijing. After the
war, publishes works featuring lively depictions of Japanese people as they begin the
recovery against a backdrop of the burned out ruins of Tokyo and the black market.
Tadahiko Hayashi
by Yoshikatsu Hayashi
Works on photography for the Bunshi ("Literati") series in 1948. Appointed
vice-chairman of Japan Professional Photographers Society in 1961. Receives Annual
Award and Distinguished Contributions Award from the Photographic Society of Japan, as well as the
Mainichi Art Award. Also receives the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1983 and the Order of the Rising Sun,
Gold Rays with Rosette in 1988.
Yasuhiro Ishimoto (1921 – present)
Born in 1921 in San Francisco, California. Moves to parents' hometown in Kochi
Prefecture, Japan in 1924. After graduating from an agricultural high school, returns
to America in 1939 to study modern agriculture at the University of California.
Interned at Japanese American internment camp in Colorado after the outbreak of
World War II. Studies under Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind at the photography
department of Chicago's Institute of Design in 1948. The sense of artistic form
Yasuhiro Ishimoto
developed here eventually gives birth to a unique form of photographic expression
by Kozo Miyoshi
Yasuhiro Ishimoto
when he returns to Japan in 1953 and works on photography of the Katsura Imperial
by Kozo Miyoshi
Villa and his Someday Somewhere series, which breathe new life into the world of
Japanese photography. Receives the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1983. Named a Person of Cultural Merit in
1996.
Hiroshi Hamaya (1915 – 1999)
Born in 1915 in Tokyo. After graduating from the Kanto Shogyo Gakko ("Kanto
Commercial School") in 1933, works for aerial photography specialist Practical
Aeronautical Research Institute and Oriental Photo Corporation. Becomes freelancer in
1937, contributing to various photo magazines. Begins covering folk customs and events
of Kuwadoridani, Niigata Prefecture in 1940. After ten years working as a photographer
during and after the war, begins his life's work of studying the relationship between
people and their climate through the medium of photographic expression. Publishes
numerous pictorials, including Yukiguni ("Snow Land"), Ura Nihon ("Japan’s Back
Coast"), Henkyo no machi ("The Remoto City"), Hamaya Hiroshi Shashin Shusei
Hiroshi Hamaya
by Takao Iida
("Hiroshi Hamaya Pictorial Compilation"), and Gakugei shoka ("Japanese scholars
and Artists"). Becomes first Japanese photographer to contribute to the Magnum
Photos cooperative in 1960. Receives the Photographic Society of Japan's Distinguished Contributions
Award, The Japan Art Vrand Prix, ICP's Master of Photography Award, and Hasselblad Foundation
International Award in Photography.
Ikko Narahara (1931 – present)
Born in 1931 in Omuta, Fukuoka Prefecture. Stuns the world of photography in 1956
while still a graduate student at Waseda University with his solo exhibition Human
Land, which features the industrial island of Hashima Island (known as Gunkanjima,
or "Battleship Island") and a village on Sakurajima Island. Takes part in The Eyes of
Ten exhibition in 1957. Holds solo exhibition Okoku ("Domains") in 1958 and wins
The Newcomer's Award of the Japan Photo Critics Association. Forms Vivo with
Eikoh Hosoe, Shomei Tomatsu, Kikuji Kawada, and others in 1959. Active
internationally, spending three years in Europe from 1962 to 1965 and five years in
America from 1970 to 1975 based out of New York producing beautiful works of
pioneering photographic art—Where Time Has Stopped and Where Time Has
Vanished. Receives the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize and the Mainichi Art Award. Also
receives the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1996.
Ikko Narahara
by Keiko Narahara
Shomei Tomatsu (1930 – present)
Born in 1930 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. After graduating from Aichi University,
becomes member of production staff for the pictorial publication Iwanami Shashin
Bunko. Becomes freelancer in 1956. Arranges Nagasaki photo series into solo
exhibition Nagasaki 11:02. Forms Vivo with Ikko Narahara, Yasuhiro Ishimoto, Kikuji
Kawada, and others in 1959. Continues to publish a series of pieces that reveal a
profound understanding of his day with regard to social issues such as the occupation
and house. Receives the Mainichi Art Award, the Minister of Education's Art
Encouragement Prize, and The Japan Art Grand Prix. Receives the Medal with Purple
Ribbon in 1995.
Shomei Tomatsu
by Shigeaki Onishi
Kikuji Kawada (1933 – present)
Kikuji Kawada
by Nakako Kawada
Born in 1933 in Ibaraki Prefecture. Graduates from Rikkyo University in 1955 and joins
Shinchosha publishing house. Works on the first issue of weekly magazine Shukan
Shincho, handling glamour and portrait photos. Becomes freelancer in 1959. Forms
Vivo with Eikoh Hosoe, Ikko Narahara, and others in 1959. His Chizu ("Map") series
depicting images symbolizing the scars of war receives acclaim. Receives the
Photographic Society of Japan's Annual Award for The Last Cosmology in 1996 and the
Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize in 2004.
Shigeichi Nagano (1925 – present)
Born in 1925 in Oita City, Oita Prefecture. After graduating from Keio University in 1947,
joins Shukan Sun News weekly as an editor. Hired as member of production staff for the
pictorial publication Iwanami Shashin Bunko in 1950. Becomes freelancer in 1955, and
receives high acclaim for Japan's Dream Age and other works. Goes on to work in
movies and television commercials. Takes part in the cinematography of director Kon
Ichikawa's Tokyo Olympiad. Receives Award from Camera Geijutu, Ina Nobuo Award,
and The Annual Award from the photographic Society of Japsn. Also awarded the Medal
with Purple Ribbon in 1993. Receives the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with
Shigeichi Nagano
by Akira Matsumura
Rosette in 1998.
Takeyoshi Tanuma (1929 – present)
Born in 1929 in Asakusa, Tokyo. Graduates from Tokyo Professional School of
Photographic Industry in 1949, and joins Sun News Photos, working under Ihee
Kimura. Involved in founding the Japan Professional Photographers Society in 1950.
Takes portraits of numerous artists and literati (bunshi) for the Geijutsu Shincho and
Shincho magazines as a contract photographer for the Shinchosha publishing house.
Signs a contract with Time-Life of America in 1965. Becomes freelancer in 1972.
Publishes numerous pictorials, such as Musashino, Bunshi ("Literati"), and Andes
Sanka ("Andes Hymn"). Works with UNICEF taking pictures of children throughout
the world. Receives the Mobil Children's Culture Award, Kikuchi Kan Prize, and the
Photographic Society of Japan's Annual Award. Receives the Medal with Purple
Ribbon in 1990. Named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2003.
Eikoh Hosoe (1933 – present)
Born in 1933 in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. Studies at Tokyo Junior College of
Photography. Joins Demokrato avant-garde artist group in 1953. Forms Vivo with
Shomei Tomatsu, Ikko Narahara, and others in 1959. His work photographing the
body engaged in artistic expression, such as Man and Woman and Kamaitachi, in
which dancer Tatsumi Hijikata is the main subject, and Barakei (“Ordeal by Roses”),
which features author Yukio Mishima, wins international acclaim as a new form of
photographic expression. Receives the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1998. Named a
Person of Cultural Merit in 2010.
■ Selected Artworks
Remarks:
For the usage of the following images for your media, please contact the staffs in charge above. We will
provide a bigger size of each image upon your request.
Ikko Narahara
Domains. Garden of Silence, No.52
Hakodate, Hokkaido 1958
Ihee Kimura
Young woman
Omagari, Akita
Ken Domon
Children looking at a picture-card show
Tokyo 1953
Shigeichi Nagano
Completing management training at
a stock brokerage firm, Ikebukuro, Tokyo 1961
1953
Hiroshi Hamaya
Woman planting rice
Toyama
1955
Yasuhiro Ishimoto
Tokyo 1962
Tadahiko Hayashi
Discharged soldiers
Shinagawa Station, Tokyo
Takeyoshi Tanuma
Dancers resting on the rooftop of the SKD Theatre
Asakusa, Tokyo 1949
1946