TOMIYAMA Haruo

TOMIYAMA Haruo 富山 治夫 (1935.2.25- ) Kanda, Tokyo. Documentary photographer best known for his The Linguistic Sense of Our Times (Our Day) (1964-66) (Gendai Gokan) showing often humorous scenes of modern Japan in the 1960s.

Major themes Modern times in Japan, Zen, and other Japan-related documentary photos

Education Koishikawa High School

Career Aspired to become a photographer since high school. Started off working for Josei Jishin magazine and then Asahi Shimbun's photo publication dept. from 1963.

Left Asahi Shimbun in 1966 to become freelance and traveled to China and other countries. Started a series called "Human Flower Bed" (Ningen Kadan) for Camera Mainichi magazine. His Sadogashima photos won an award from Kodansha in 1978.

The Linguistic Sense of Our Times (Our Day) (1964-66) (Gendai Gokan) is his most highly acclaimed collection of photos which show sometimes humorous scenes of modern life in Japan. The photos were a parody on common two-character Japanese words such as "Kyoyo" (Tolerance) which showed a fisheye view above a rush-hour crowd inside a packed train at Shinjuku Station.

The picture "Rentai" (Coupling) showed a bridge with numerous couples embracing or necking.

See also "Kamitsu" (High Density), and "Kansho" (Observation). The photos appeared as a series in the Asahi Journal from Sept. 1964 for 16 months (67 issues). (2002.05.20)

Awards Newcomer's Award, Japan Society of Photographic Critics Association, 1965; Kodansha Publication Culture Award, 1978; Award of the Year, Photographic Society of Japan, 1980; Newcomer's Art Encouragement Award, Minister of Education, 1981; Culture Promotion Award, Photographic Society of Japan, 1995.

Sample photos: http://www.tomiyamaharuo.com/ourday.htm

http://www.tomiyamaharuo.com/zen.htm

Web site: http://www.tomiyamaharuo.com/index_e.htm