biography

Akira KINOSHITA ©Ryoichi Saito

木之下 晃 -Akira KINOSHITA-

Akira Kinoshita was born in Nagano prefecture in 1936, and studied at Nihon Fukushi University.
After working at Chunichi Shimbun and Hakuhodo he went freelance, and he has worked as a music photographer ever since.
He is also a guest professor at Nihon Fukushi University.


Major literary works and photo books

1981
Seiji Ozawa, Kodansha
1984
World Musician, vol. 1 - 3, Shogakukan
1992
Maestro Karajan, Asahi Shimbunsha
1996
Akio Watanabe, Ongaku-no-tomo-sha
2002
Takashi Asahina: Longevity is the Highest Form of Art, Shinchosha
2004
Carlos Kreiber, Alpha-Beta
2005
Photographing Toru Takemitsu, Shogakukan
2006
The Maestros: Great Musicians in Performance, Shogakukan
2006
Journey into Verdi, Jitsugyo-no-nihonsha
2007
Martha Argerich, Chopin
2009
Ishi: Portrait with a Stone, Asuka Shinsha
2012
The last photo of Maria Callas, Kyobunsya
Click here to view details of his literary works and photo books.

Major photo exhibitions

1971
"On Stage - A Landscape with Sound" (Ginza Nikon Salon)
1976
"Musicians of the World" (Ginza Wako Hall)
1995
"Reproducing Sound" (Kanagawa Prefectural Civic Hall Gallery)
1995
"The Perfection of Sound" (Suwa City Museum of Art)
1998
"A Journey Through the Music of Vienna" (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Headquarters)
1999
"Opera House - Opera Houses of the World" (Ginza Wako Hall)
2001
"Shakespeare and his Era" (Sai-no-Kuni Saitama Arts Theater)
2002
"Musicians of the World - 100 Maestros" (Matsumoto City Museum of Art)
2002
"20th Century Musicians" (Aichi Arts Center)
2005
"101 Maestros of the World" (MUZA KAWASAKI Symphony Hall)
2006
"104 Maestros of the World" (Chino City Museum of Art)
2006
"Dear Maestros" (Ginza Wako Hall)
2006
"Musicians of Japan" (JCII Photo Salon)
2007
"Seeing Music" (Oita-Yufuin Imagination Grove Artegio)
2011
"100 Maestros of the 20th Century" (Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

Awards

1971
Best New Photographer Award, The Photographic Society of Japan
1985
36th Minister of Education Award, Geijyutsu Sensho
2005
Best Photographer Award, The Photographic Society of Japan
2006
Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon
2008
18th Nippon Steel Music Special Achievement Award

He has published around 45 photo books and other literary works, and held around 80 photo exhibitions.
He has also received invitations from overseas governments (including the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Finland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Canada) on 15 occasions.

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