Biography of Takashi Kijima (1920 - 2011)

1920.12.24
born in Calexico, California, as the son of Mr. Watanabe, a shoe manufacturer who had
immigrated in 1905, and his wife Sei.
The boy's name as a US citizen was Takashi Watanabe.

1942
Graduated Nihon University, and worked at Toho Film.
His father was imprisoned in a relocation camp in California, where he became ill & died.
His father's insole-U.S. patent was confiscated by US government.

1943
Kijima joined the neval air corps, in a Kamikaze unit.
Lieutenant

1945
World War II ended
Received Rolleicord U presented by a wartime camrades lodged at the same house
Returned to Tottori in December

1950
A portrait of an old woman won effusive praise from Ken Domon, famous photographer,and also won many prizes
Studied photographs of "LIFE", "Look", "Vogue", "Bazaar", while opening workshop at PX of US airbase in Miho, Tottori- prefecture

1953
Applied commercial photographs and won prizes.
Moved to Tokyo to work for the company, Light Publicity
Created an advertising for the airing of TV with Joe Murakoshi, designer

1960
Won an advertising prize from LIFE magazine with "Yawata Iron & Steel".
Took an invitation of Art Directors Club, New York, and attended the conference of visual communications.
During his 2-month- stay in New York, he took photogaphs in Easter Parade, Halem,
fish market etc, and made a speech at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis

1975
Published "The Orchid" (Japanese edition) by Kodansha, a Tokyo- based publisher
Worked on the calendar (Spanish edition), "La Sociedao Hispanica del Japan"

1981
Published the book titled "Yoshitsune- Senbon-Zakura - Keys to (understand) the Japanese Mind"
in 4 volumes from book division of NHK, national public broadcasting organization.
The books have been handed over to President Reagan, and donated to Smithonian Museum
by PM Zenko Suzuki, and then also handed over to political leaders in Europe
by PM Yasuhiro Nakasono.

1985
Photographs bought by Kawasaki City Museum

1987
Published a book, "The Original Orchids - Hyakka-Fu" as a special issue celebrating first opening of the 11. World Orchid Conference by Shogakkan, a publisher in Tokyo

1990
Photographs bought by Yonago City Museum of Art, Tottori prefecture

1991
Published a book, "FOUR SEASONS - Shinjuku Gyoen" by Kodansha, a publisher in Tokyo
Published a book, " Cherry through the Season" by Shogakkan, a publisher in Tokyo

1995
Exhibition of "Takashi Kijima - 1958 [NUDES]" at Fuji (Film) Photo Salon

1996
Exhibition of "Yonago - Time of 6 x 6" (presented 110 photographs)
Photographs bought by JCII, Japan Camera Industry Institute Museum (www.jcii-camera.or.jp/)

1998
Published a book, "Legend of The Nude 1945 - 1960", by Shoen Shinsha, a publisher
Appointed to a chairman of Tokyo Photographical Culture Centre which was dissolved at 2004

2001
Exhibition of "Takashi Kijima" at Yonago City Museum of Art(21.01. 2001- 04.03.2001)
Received Thanking Award as a pioneer of advertising photographs after World War II, as well as for his good j& exciting jobs in the field of femail photos, traditional plays, and orchids
by The Photographic Society of Japan

Photographs bought by Shimane Museum of Art

2003
Exhibited "Old Woman " at Japon 1945-1975 un renouveau photographique in Paris

2006
Photographs bought by Tottori Prefectural Museum

2010
Exhibition of "Takashi Kijima 90 " at Artgraph Gallery
Exhibition of "Nude 50 " by Kokuten at The National Art Center,Tokyo

2013
Exhibition `Four Pioneers of Photo Representation - Teikou Siotani・Syouji Ueda ・ Takeji Iwamiya ・ Takasi Kijima ' at Tottori Prefectual at Tottori Prefectual Museum

Exhibition `Nude' at Roonee 247 photography

2014
Exhibition `Exhibition of New collections' at Yonago City Museum of Art

2016
Exhibition `Old Recollections' at Gallery Art graph