SASAMOTO Tsuneko

From PHOTOGUIDE.JP
Sasamoto Tsuneko in (age 93) 2011 in Tokyo.

SASAMOTO Tsuneko 笹本 恒子 (1918.9.1-2022.8.15) Shinagawa, Tokyo. Known as Japan's first female documentary photographer.

Photographed Japan in 1940 before World War II broke out. After the war ended in 1945, started working for Chiba Newspaper.

Moved to Tokyo and turned freelance photographer in 1947. Contributed photos and articles to newspapers and magazines.

Joined the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS) in 1950 when it was founded.

Mainly photographed the political situation, daily life, and riots (US-Japan Security Treaty) before and after the war. Still active in the 1990s with exhibitions and publications. (

Japan Times article about her here.