Kimura Ihee

Ihee Kimura (1901–1974) is a pioneer of modern Japanese photography, known for his masterful snapshots taken with high-end German Leica cameras. He founded the influential photography magazine Koga in 1932, led the Shinko Shashin (New Photography) movement, and later worked as a photojournalist. After the war, he became a central figure in the realism movement. His photographs, which captured the true nature of his subjects in precise moments, influenced many amateur photographers in Japan. In 1975, the Kimura Ihei Award was established to honor his contributions to Japanese photography. It remains one of the most prestigious Japanese photography awards.

*This text was contributed by Mitsuhiro Wakayama.
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