KANO Tenmei (Noriaki)

KANO Tenmei (Noriaki) 加納 典明 (1942.2.22) Nagoya, Aichi Pref.

Somewhat infamous photographer of nudes who was charged with obscenity in the past.

Turned freelance commercial photographer at age 21. His work made its debut in Heibon Punch magazine.

Arrested by police in Feb. 1995 on obscenity charges in reference to his nude photo books titled Kikuze! 2. The president of the publishing company Takeshobo was also arrested.

It is highly unusual for the police to arrest the photographer (usually only the publisher gets arrested). Even the printer Dai-Nippon Printing and the distribution companies were searched by police.

Kano and Takeshobo were warned previously regarding earlier material. But they apparently ignored the warning, leading to their arrests. Kano first vowed to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court, but later "admitted" his guilt and the case was settled. The legal debate over artistic freedom was effectively postponed.