Kiyoshi Nishiyama (西山 清, Nishiyama Kiyoshi, 1893–1983) was a versatile Japanese amateur photographer who specialized in landscapes. [1]
Born in Tokyo in 1893 as Kiyonosuke Nishiyama [2] (西山清之助), 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 (平和堂), in Nihonbashi, and at about the same time starting up and leading a photographic club, the Pleasant Club (プレザントクラブ, Purezanto Kurabu), and submitting his photographs to photographic magazines. [3]
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 (平和記念東京博覧会). [3] 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. [3] 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. [3]
From 1925 Nishiyama began the first of several series of photographs in Photo Times (フォトタイムス, Foto Taimusu) magazine; these were on a variety of subjects but most notable was Nishiyama's portrayal of the cityscape of Tokyo after the earthquake. [3] From 1928 Shirai used a Rolleiflex camera, and turned this to photographing Nikkō and bunraku [1] (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. [1] Virtually all of Nishiyama's prewar work was destroyed in the bombing of Tokyo. [1]
Nishiyama continued to exhibit and publish after the war. In 1954 he won the PSJ award, [4] and in 1977 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th class, for his services to photography. [5] He died on 5 March 1983. [6] Nishiyama's work is held in the permanent collections of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography [6] and Nihon University (which preserves what little remains of Nishiyama's prewar work). [1]
Kiyoshi Nishiyama (西山 清, Nishiyama Kiyoshi, 1893–1983) was a versatile Japanese amateur photographer who specialized in landscapes. [1]
Born in Tokyo in 1893 as Kiyonosuke Nishiyama [2] (西山清之助), 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 (平和堂), in Nihonbashi, and at about the same time starting up and leading a photographic club, the Pleasant Club (プレザントクラブ, Purezanto Kurabu), and submitting his photographs to photographic magazines. [3]
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 (平和記念東京博覧会). [3] 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. [3] 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. [3]
From 1925 Nishiyama began the first of several series of photographs in Photo Times (フォトタイムス, Foto Taimusu) magazine; these were on a variety of subjects but most notable was Nishiyama's portrayal of the cityscape of Tokyo after the earthquake. [3] From 1928 Shirai used a Rolleiflex camera, and turned this to photographing Nikkō and bunraku [1] (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. [1] Virtually all of Nishiyama's prewar work was destroyed in the bombing of Tokyo. [1]
Nishiyama continued to exhibit and publish after the war. In 1954 he won the PSJ award, [4] and in 1977 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 5th class, for his services to photography. [5] He died on 5 March 1983. [6] Nishiyama's work is held in the permanent collections of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography [6] and Nihon University (which preserves what little remains of Nishiyama's prewar work). [1]