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.
