TANUMA Takeyoshi
TANUMA Takeyoshi 田沼 武能 (1929.2.18–2022.6.1) Asakusa, Tokyo. Former president of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS) from 1995.
Major themes Children around the world
Education Graduated from Tokyo Professional School of Photographic Industry (Tokyo Shashin Kogei Senmon Gakko) in 1949
Career Originally wanted to become an architect, but failed the school entrance exam. After graduating from Tokyo Photographic College in 1949, entered Sun News Photos where he met and apprenticed under KIMURA Ihee.
Worked part-time for Geijutsu Shincho magazine from 1951 to 1958 where he took portraits of many literary figures and artists. Stringer for Time Life Inc. from 1965 to 1972 to take photos of children all over the world. Children became his favorite subjects and his life work.
From 1984, he has accompanied the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (TV personality KUROYANAGI Tetsuko) to countries (mainly in Africa and Asia) receiving emergency relief and photographed the children in need.
Photographing children of the world is the photographer's life work. He has done it in 120 countries during the last 50 years. He's not out to photograph children to try and make them look cute as most parents might do. Instead, he aims to show the state of the world through children's viewpoint. (2002.07.20)
Awards Award of the Year, Photographic Society of Japan, 1975, 1988, & 1994; Mobile Children's Culture Award, 1979; 33rd Kikuchi Kan Award, 1985; Medal with Purple Ribbon, 1990; Person of Cultural Merit, Agency for Cultural Affairs, 2003
Sample photos: https://fujifilmsquare.jp/profile/takeyoshi_tanuma.html