OKADA Koyo

OKADA Koyo 岡田 紅陽 (1895.8.31-1972.11.22) Tokamachi, Niigata Pref. Photographer of Mt. Fuji, his life work.

Education Graduated Waseda Univ. law dept. in 1918.

Career Photographed the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Received a letter of appreciation from the Governor of Tokyo for the photos.

Traveled to Europe and the South Seas, gave a large photo of Mt. Fuji to each head of state and received a letter of thanks from them. Established the Mt. Fuji Photo Association in 1940 and became the chairman.

Established the Japan Tourist Photo Federation in 1944. Opened a photo studio in Shibuya, Tokyo in 1947.

He was an avid photographer of Mt. Fuji, taking 400,000 photos of Fuji-san. On the back of the ¥1,000 bill is a picture of Mt. Fuji reflected on Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture (gyaku-Fuji or Reversed Mt. Fuji). This picture was based on a Mt. Fuji photo by Okada Koyo taken in 1935.

In Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture, there is the Okada Koyo Photo Museum (岡田紅陽写真美術館) exhibiting his photos and cameras. It opened in 2004. The museum is paired with an exhibition space for Kunio Koike's picture letters. The museum is in the Fuji Five Lakes area between Lake Yamanaka and Lake Kawaguchi. Address: 2838-1 Shibokusa, Oshino-mura, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi (山梨県南都留郡忍野村忍草２８３８−１)

Website: http://shikinomori.starfree.jp/

Awards Photographic Society of Japan, 1954; Japan National Park Association Award, 1956; Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, 1966