Bukō Shimizu (清水 武甲, Shimizu Bukō, 1913–1995) was a Japanese photographer who lived in and photographed Chichibu ( Saitama).
Shimizu was born on 12 October 1913 in Chichibu, the eldest son of the family running a photography studio in Kumaki, Chichibu. [1] His unusual given name, Bukō, is written with the same characters as those used for Mount Bukō; the family had intended it to be pronounced Takekatsu, but when interviewed in his late seventies Shimizu did not remember "Takekatsu" as having been used. [2] In 1929, Shimizu's father suddenly gave up working at the family's photography studio in Chichibu, [3] and the 16-year-old Bukō had to teach himself photographic technique (even the manufacture of photographic paper) from books bought second hand in order to keep the business running [2] From around 1937 he also energetically photographed the topography and people of Chichibu. [1] [4]
Shimizu provided the photographs for a large number of books about the Chichibu area. In 1972 he won the annual award of the Photographic Society of Japan. [5]
Shimizu also wrote much about Chichibu; a three-volume collection of his writings was published in 1983. [3] He worked on behalf of the area's libraries and drama, and towards creation of Chichibu National Park. [4]
Shimizu died on 23 January 1995. [4]
Photographs by Shimizu are in the permanent collection of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. [3]
Bukō Shimizu (清水 武甲, Shimizu Bukō, 1913–1995) was a Japanese photographer who lived in and photographed Chichibu ( Saitama).
Shimizu was born on 12 October 1913 in Chichibu, the eldest son of the family running a photography studio in Kumaki, Chichibu. [1] His unusual given name, Bukō, is written with the same characters as those used for Mount Bukō; the family had intended it to be pronounced Takekatsu, but when interviewed in his late seventies Shimizu did not remember "Takekatsu" as having been used. [2] In 1929, Shimizu's father suddenly gave up working at the family's photography studio in Chichibu, [3] and the 16-year-old Bukō had to teach himself photographic technique (even the manufacture of photographic paper) from books bought second hand in order to keep the business running [2] From around 1937 he also energetically photographed the topography and people of Chichibu. [1] [4]
Shimizu provided the photographs for a large number of books about the Chichibu area. In 1972 he won the annual award of the Photographic Society of Japan. [5]
Shimizu also wrote much about Chichibu; a three-volume collection of his writings was published in 1983. [3] He worked on behalf of the area's libraries and drama, and towards creation of Chichibu National Park. [4]
Shimizu died on 23 January 1995. [4]
Photographs by Shimizu are in the permanent collection of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. [3]