communion, a spiritual dialogue between human
being and divine spirits. Watanabe’s pictures play
with the idea of a past updated by the present
construction and respect the particular temporality
of this unique site. In these pictures, no extraneous
detail disturbs the eye from contemplation of the
temple and its timeless links to the ancient practice
of Shintoism.
Watanabe photographed this sacred ceremony
three times: in 1953, in 1973, and again in 1993,
when he was 86. In each of these series, his techni-
que stays the same. He composes his image in order
to let the viewer enter the place. The effect of the
light and shadows with the sky, slightly dimmed
along with other elements, invite the viewer to
occupy the site and feel the architectural material.
Watanabe does not focus upon the general look of
the building; he gives instead an illustrated walk
that observes various details of the structure. That
same year, then in 1954, Watanabe published in
Asahi Camerahis work on historic monuments,
including various Buddhist temples. The first fea-
ture was devoted to monuments of Kyoto city and
the second to the ancient architecture of Nara.In
1956, after participating in the World Council on
Peace in Colombo, Watanabe traveled to Europe,
China, Egypt, and the Soviet Union. He shot a
number of series on his experiences in each coun-
try, which were shown in exhibitions and publica-
tions (The Faces of Asia,Moscow,A Trip to Italy,
Voice of Colombo) where Watanabe grasps the dif-
ferences and the relations between Japan and the
Occident. Among others, these travels allowed him
to measure the differences in his method from those
of Western photographers and distance himself
from the great names of Western photography.
Among some of the images from this period are
those of many historic sites: the Izumo Shrine, the
Tohu Gosho, (the residence of Crown Prince in
Tokyo), the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Guest
House, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel.
As one of Japan’s most distinguished photogra-
phers, Watanabe was awarded many prizes (such
as the Photographic Society of Japan annual in
1957) and medals (including one from the Third
Order of Merit and Order of the Sacred Treasure in
Tokyo, in 1978; and one from the Order of Culture,
in 1990). Watanabe has played an important role in
Japanese cultural institutions and at the university
level (he was Professor of Art from 1958 at Nihon
University in Tokyo). In 1978, he was director of
Tokyo Polytechnic Institute, worked tirelessly for
the promotion of copyright laws in Japan, and
contributed to the creation of Tokyo Metropolitan
Museum of Photography in Ebisu, at which he was
the first director between 1990 and 1995.
ThomasCyril
Seealso:Architectural Photography; Photography
in Japan; Hamaya, HiroshiBiography
Born in 21 April 1907 in Sanj, Niigata Prefecture. Studied
at the Konishi Photography College in Tokyo, 1925–- Worked in the Oriental Photographic Industries,
and as editor ofPhoto Timesmonthly magazine, 1930– - Established the Watanabe Studio in Ginza,
Tokyo, 1935–1936. Completed assignments for govern-
ment agencies such as the International Tourist Bureau
(Ministry of Transportation), International Culture
Promotion Organization, and the Foreign Ministry
Intelligence Bureau; 1935–1936. Member International
Report Photographers Society (IRP), Tokyo, 1936– - Freelance photographer,1940 onward. Co-foun-
der International Press Photography Association, 1941,
Lecturer, 1950–1952, Assistant Professor, 1952–1958,
and Professor of Art at Nihon University in Tokyo,
1958–1978. Begins life-long project of photographing
the Ise Shrine, 1953. Vice-Chairman of the Photo-
graphic Society of Japan in Tokyo, 1973. First director
of the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography,
1990–1995. Honorary Chairman, Tokyo Institute of
Technology, 1981–2000. Prizes include: Annual Prize
of the Japanese Photographers Association and the
prize of the Minister of the Agency for Cultural
Affairs,1957; Art Encouragement Award, Ministry of
Education of Tokyo, 1958. Merit of Japanese Photo-
graphers Society, 1970; Mainichi Art Award, 1972;
Third Order of Merit and Order of the Sacred Treas-
ure,1978 and the Order of Culture, 1990. Died at age 93
on 21 July, 2000.
Individual Exhibitions
1933 Watanabe Stage Photographs; Tabarazuka Theater
Basement Hall, Tokyo, Japan
1938 Nanking/Shangai Press Photos; Ginza Mitsukoshi
Department Store, Tokyo, Japan
1950 The Emperor and the Imperial Palace; Nihonbashi
Mitsukoshi Department Store, Tokyo, Japan
1957 Traveling in Italy; Konishiroku Photo Gallery, Tokyo,
Japan
Asian Nations; Takashimaya Department Store,
Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
1958 People in Europe; Gekko Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1965 Tombstones in Kyoto; Gekko Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1985 Grand View of Old Temples; Wako Hall, Ginza,
Tokyo, Japan
1987 Ise; Kodak Photo Salon, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
1989 Yoshio Watanabe, Photographer; Niigata Prefectural
Art Museum, Niigata, Japan
1991 Yoshio Watanabe; Yokohama Museum of Art, Yoko-
hama, Japan
1996 Watanabe Yoshio: A Photographer’s View of People,
Towns and Structures; Metropolitan Museum of Photo-
graphy, Tokyo, JapanWATANABE, YOSHIO