Kiyoshi Nishiyama
Encyclopedia
was a versatile Japan
ese amateur photographer who specialized in landscapes.
Born in Tokyo in 1893 as Kiyonosuke Nishiyama , Nishiyama became interested in photography at 15. He intended to become a professional photographer and learned retouching in a photographic studio at Ryōgoku
, but never turned professional, instead in 1921 setting up a photographic supplies shop, Heiwadō , in Nihonbashi
, and at about the same time starting up and leading a photographic club, the Pleasant Club , and submitting his photographs to photographic magazines.
In 1922 Nishiyama won the first prize for his submission, taken with a Vest Pocket Kodak, to a competition at the Heiwa Kinen Tōkyō Hakurankai . A year later he lost all his photographs and cameras in the Great Kantō Earthquake
, but persevered and held the first exhibition of the Pleasant Club in 1924.
Nishiyama was impressed by the "light and its harmony" aesthetic of Shinzō Fukuhara
, who invited him to join the Japan Photographic Society
; Nishiyama soon thereafter had a solo exhibition at the Shiseido
Gallery.
From 1925 Nishiyama began the first of several series of photographs in Photo Times magazine; these were on a variety of subjects but most notable was Nishiyama's portrayal of the cityscape of Tokyo after the earthquake.
From 1928 Shirai used a Rolleiflex
camera, and turned this to photographing Nikkō
and bunraku
(the subjects of solo exhibitions; he later added a Leica, but from 1959 changed to a Nikon F
that he always used with a 50 mm lens.
Virtually all of Nishiyama's prewar work was destroyed in the bombing of Tokyo.
Nishiyama continued to exhibit and publish after the war. In 1954 he won the PSJ award, and in 1977 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
, 5th class, for his services to photography. He died on 5 March 1983.
Nishiyama's work is held in the permanent collections of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
and Nihon University
(which preserves what little remains of Nishiyama's prewar work).
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese amateur photographer who specialized in landscapes.
Born in Tokyo in 1893 as Kiyonosuke Nishiyama , Nishiyama became interested in photography at 15. He intended to become a professional photographer and learned retouching in a photographic studio at Ryōgoku
Ryogoku
is a neighborhood in Sumida, Tokyo. It is surrounded by various neighborhoods in Sumida, Chūō, and Taitō wards: Yokoami, Midori, Chitose, Higashi Nihonbashi, and Yanagibashi....
, but never turned professional, instead in 1921 setting up a photographic supplies shop, Heiwadō , in Nihonbashi
Nihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
, and at about the same time starting up and leading a photographic club, the Pleasant Club , and submitting his photographs to photographic magazines.
In 1922 Nishiyama won the first prize for his submission, taken with a Vest Pocket Kodak, to a competition at the Heiwa Kinen Tōkyō Hakurankai . A year later he lost all his photographs and cameras in the Great Kantō Earthquake
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
The struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST on September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes...
, but persevered and held the first exhibition of the Pleasant Club in 1924.
Nishiyama was impressed by the "light and its harmony" aesthetic of Shinzō Fukuhara
Shinzo Fukuhara
was a renowned Japanese photographer.He was born in Kyōbashi-ku, Tokyo, on 25 July 1883, as the fourth son of Arinobu Fukuhara , the head of Apothecary Shiseidō and Toku Fukuhara . The third brother predeceased his birth, so he was named and treated as the third son...
, who invited him to join the Japan Photographic Society
Japan Photographic Society (1924–)
Unrelated to an earlier organization with the same name, the JPS grew out of the and the Kōga-kai . Founded in 1924, its first president was Shinzō Fukuhara, and its other founding members included the amateur photographers Rosō Fukuhara, Kiichirō Ishida, Isao Kakefuda, Maroni Kumazawa, Yasutarō...
; Nishiyama soon thereafter had a solo exhibition at the Shiseido
Shiseido
is a major Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer. It is the oldest cosmetics company in the world and the fourth largest cosmetics company in the world.-History:...
Gallery.
From 1925 Nishiyama began the first of several series of photographs in Photo Times magazine; these were on a variety of subjects but most notable was Nishiyama's portrayal of the cityscape of Tokyo after the earthquake.
From 1928 Shirai used a Rolleiflex
Rolleiflex
Rolleiflex is the name of a long-running and diverse line of high-end cameras originally made by the German company Franke & Heidecke, and later Rollei-Werk. The "Rolleiflex" name is most commonly used to refer to Rollei's premier line of medium format twin lens reflex cameras...
camera, and turned this to photographing Nikkō
Nikko, Tochigi
is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists...
and bunraku
Bunraku
, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
(the subjects of solo exhibitions; he later added a Leica, but from 1959 changed to a Nikon F
Nikon F
The Nikon F camera, introduced in 1959, was Nikon's first SLR camera. It was one of the most advanced cameras of its day. Although most of its concepts had already been introduced elsewhere, it was the first camera to combine them all in one camera. It was produced until October 1973 and was...
that he always used with a 50 mm lens.
Virtually all of Nishiyama's prewar work was destroyed in the bombing of Tokyo.
Nishiyama continued to exhibit and publish after the war. In 1954 he won the PSJ award, and in 1977 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, 5th class, for his services to photography. He died on 5 March 1983.
Nishiyama's work is held in the permanent collections of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
The is an art museum focused on photography. The museum was founded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and is located in Meguro-ku, a short walk from Ebisu station in southwest Tokyo...
and Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
(which preserves what little remains of Nishiyama's prewar work).
Solo exhibitions by Nishiyama
- ShiseidoShiseidois a major Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer. It is the oldest cosmetics company in the world and the fourth largest cosmetics company in the world.-History:...
Gallery (GinzaGinzais a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi.It is known as an upscale area of Tokyo with numerous department stores, boutiques, restaurants and coffeehouses. Ginza is recognized as one of the most...
, Tokyo), 1920s - "Nikkō" , MatsuzakayaMatsuzakayais a major Japanese department store chain operated by Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores, a subsidiary of J. Front Retailing. When the chain was an independent company, , it had its headquarters in Naka-ku, Nagoya.- History :...
(UenoUeno, Tokyois a district in Tokyo's Taitō Ward, best known as the home of Ueno Station and Ueno Park. Ueno is also home to some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Science Museum, as well as a major public concert hall...
, Tokyo), 1929. Photographs of NikkōNikko, Tochigiis a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists...
. - "Bunraku" , Nihon Salon (Ginza, Tokyo), 1935. Photographs of bunrakuBunraku, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
. - "Nihon no fūbutsu: Kita kara minami" , MatsuyaMatsuya Co.Matsuya Co., Ltd. is a Japanese department store in Tokyo. Founded in 1869, Two stores are in Ginza and Asakusa .-External links:...
(Ginza, Tokyo), 1958. Photographs of Japanese scenery. - "Okinawa no fūbutsu" , Marunouchi Gekkō Gallery (MarunouchiMarunouchiMarunouchi is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat...
, Tokyo), 1960. Photographs of RyūkyūRyukyu IslandsThe , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
scenery. - "Nihon no tō" , Marunouchi Gekkō Gallery (Marunouchi, Tokyo), 1964. Photographs of Japanese pagodas.
- "Koyomi" , Marunouchi Gekkō Gallery (Marunouchi, Tokyo), 1973. Photographs of the calendar.
Books by Nishiyama
- Arusu geijutsu shashin gashū dai-2-hen ( Ars art photograph collection, 2nd ed). Tokyo: Ars, 1926.
- Hikinobashi no jissai . Asahi Camera Sōsho 11. Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1936.
- Kotō o tazunete . Tokyo: Jinbutsu-ōraisha, 1964.
- Nihon no kotō . Tokyo: Kenkōsha, 1972.
- Shunkō shūshoku / Seasonal Aspects of Japan. Sonorama Shashin Sensho 21. Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1979.