The Photo History Museum at FUJIFILM SQUARE is pleased to announce Part 3 (Landscapes II) of its Exhibition of Photographs by UCHIDA Kuichi – mid-19th Century Photographer. Part 3 of the exhibition which will run from July 1 – August 31, 2011.
UCHIDA Kuichi (1844-1875) was the most prominent photographer of the final years of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period. He was the first photographer to capture images of the Emperor Meiji, the leading figures in the final turbulent days of the Edo period, the warriors who took part in the Meiji Restoration and senior officials of the Meiji government. He was also among the first to take photographs of Tokyo and many other locations around Japan. Uchida is renowned as the pioneer of photography in Japan.
The government of the Meiji period (1868-1912) was centered on the Emperor and aimed to make Japan a strong, and modern nation. During the early years of the new era, the Emperor Meiji traveled extensively around Japan to show the people how modern Japan had become – and photographer Uchida Kuichi was selected to accompany the Emperor on his travels to record this historic occasion. Part 3 of this exhibition features landscape photographs taken by Uchida during the Emperor's travels in the cities of Kyoto and Osaka and throughout western Japan and the island of Kyushu.
Visitors will be able to view photos of the Meiji Emperor's personal flagship and images of Kumamoto before it was devastated in the Seinan War fire of 1877. Visitors will also be able to marvel at the artistry of one of Japan's foremost photographers and witness firsthand some of Japan's most valuable photographic records of historic events and places.
Profile of UCHIDA Kuichi (1844 - 1875)
Born in Nagasaki in 1844, and lost his parents at an early age. Studied chemistry under Dutch physician Johannes Pompe van Meerdervoort, and later learned photography from MAEDA Genzo, a member of the Fukuoka clan, and others. In 1865, he opened a photo studio in Osaka, and later opened studios in prime locations in Yokohama and Tokyo. In 1872, he was requested by the Imperial Household Agency to accompany Emperor Meiji on his first tour of Japan, and utilized the opportunity to take photos of various well-known national landmarks. UCHIDA took photos of Emperor before the Imperial tour commenced and again the following year. He rose to further prominence for capturing and selling images of the popular kabuki actors of the day, and amassed enough wealth to build himself a luxury residence in the Kanda Surugadai district of Tokyo.However, shortly after, he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and passed away at the age of only 32.
