TOMATSU Shomei

TOMATSU Shomei 東松 照明 (1930.1.15-2012.12.14) Nagoya, Aichi Pref. A major figure in fine-art and documentary photography. Based in Nagasaki.

Major themes Nagasaki, Okinawa, war-related issues

Education Attended high school in Nagoya, 1942-46; studied economics at Aichi University, 1954. Self-taught in photography.

Career Photographer since 1951. Founding member of the Vivo group of photographers, Tokyo, 1959. Director, Japan Professional Photographers Society, 1959. Professor, Tokyo University of Art and Design, from 1966.

Covered the post-war Occupation, atom bomb victims, conflicts concerning the American bases on Okinawa (since the late 1960s), and other social upheavals. Lived in Okinawa for a while from 1972. Moved to Nagasaki in 1998.

For his Nagasaki photos titled, "Nagasakiﾑ11:02," he said that Nagasaki has two times: Aug. 9, 1945, 11:02 (when the bomb exploded) and all the time since then (during which the suffering continued). "Both times must not be forgotten." (2000.12.20)

Awards Most Promising Photographer Award, Japan Photo Critics Association, 1958; Photographer of the Year. Award, Japan Photo Critics Association, 1961; Photographic Society of Japan Award, 1975; Mai-nichi Art Award, 1976; Art Encouragement Award, Ministry of Education, 1976; Medal with Purple Ribbon, 1995.

Book reviews Nagasaki, 11:02 Aug. 9, 1945

Web site: http://homepage2.nifty.com/INTERFACE/