HANAWA Yoshino

HANAWA Yoshino 塙 芳野 (1848-1884) Tokyo. One of Japan's first female photographers.

Learned photography from KITANIWA Tsukuba. Opened a photo studio in Tsukiji in the back of a kabuki theater in 1876.

Specialized in shooting kabuki actors like Danjuro, Sadanji, and Onoe Kikugoro V who received her very well. She was also depicted as a woman photographer in a color woodblock print by Toyohara Kunichika. Numerous kabuki photos taken in 1877 by her still remain. Untimely death at age 36. (2000.12.15)