Kuwabara Kineo was born in 1913 in the Shitaya District, in the vicinity of Ueno Station. He was a self-taught amateur photographer who worked in the family business (pawn-broker) but spent much of his spare time - particularly during the 1930s - on the streets photographing everyday life. He later said that it was an encounter with Hamaya Hiroshi which inspired him to take photography seriously and from 1934 onwards he walked tirelessly around Ueno, Asakusa, Setagaya, as well as the fashionable districts of the Ginza in order to find his own language. He was clearly influenced by prevailing modernist trends called ‘shinko shashin’ (New photography) in Japan. But he soon found his own style but his favourite subjects of kids, adults, shops, stalls, cinemas, and stations stayed clear of the high artificiality that was part of the prevailing photographic fashion. Kuwabara remained close to the ground, close to downtown life, close to the moment and the people that made those moments. Often, he included adverts, billboards, shop-signs and announcements in his compositions. In the relatively short time between 1932 and 1939 he managed to take over 20,000 images. He submitted entries to important magazines like Camera Art, Shashin Salon, Photo Times, and Asahi Camera. His favourite Camera was the Leica C model which he acquires in June in 1934.
After the war he became a noted art critic and editor for several major photo magazines (ARS Camera, Sankei Camera, Camera Geijutsu, The Photo Image, and others) but until the 1970s his own work was practically unknown. It was chiefly due to the efforts of Araki Nobuyoshi that his snapshots from the 1930s reached a wider audience. Araki felt a strong kinship to Kuwabara’s work due to his method of continuously hunting for shots on the streets of Tokyo. The first solo exhibition of his work was held in 1973 at the Ginza Nikon Salon entitled ‘The Lost Metropolis’. It was the first time that photographs from that period were shown publicly and for many survivors of the war his work was a source of great nostalgia. In the following year, he published a photobook entitled ‘Tokyo Showa ju-ichi nen’ [Tokyo during Showa 11] (Shobunsha, 1974) which established him as a major figure in Japanese photography.
These images of daily life in Tokyo from the 1930s to the 1980s bring half a century to life. They show history in a nonchalant way - as it was - speaking to us deeply. There is hardly any distance between the people and the photographer, there are notes of approaching danger in the newspaper headlines, the image of the sun rising after the military coup in 1936 is particularly ominous... but overall there is a lack of concern, people just go about their daily life, be it energetically or calmly. Kuwabara is close to them. He is hunting, catching moments of significance that reveal their time and their identity.
Kuwabara Kineo described his method as follows: “A snapshot is not something where you just press the shutter, you have to breathe with the subject every second and release the shutter at the very moment when the matching of spirit causes a scattering of sparks, and I think that this is the important [moment of] beauty which neither the mouth nor the brush can convey”.
Provenance: This set of prints belonged to Kuwabara Kineo himself. They were produced for a large retrospective of his work in 1995 entitled ‘Tokyo Modern’ at the Tokyo Station Gallery. They are preserved in three large cardboard parcels (measuring 78x59x12), each with printed label “Nihon Bijutsu Shoji kabushiki gaisha” (Japan Art Services Company) who specialise in the packaging and transport of exhibition works.
1. Mobo and Moga in the Kyobashi district of Ginza 1935
2. Shopping on Ginza 4-chome 1935
3. Modern Girls (Mogas) on the Ginza 1935
4. Large photo-montage on the wall of the Morinaga restaurant 1936
5. Crossing the Street in front of Yebisu Beer Hall at Ginza 5-chome 1935
6. Mobo and Moga passing a lady in a kimono in Ginza 1935
7. Kyobashi-ku, Ginza 1935
8. Asahi Newspaper headquarters in Kojimachi, Yurakucho 1936
9. In front of Nichigeki Theater Kojimachi, Yurakucho 1936
10. Mogas on the Ginza 1934
11. Night at Ueno Station 1936
12. Ticket barrier in Ueno Station 1936
13. Record girl in a restaurant close to Ueno Station 1936
14. Togeki Theater, Kyobashiku, Tsukiji 4-chome 1934
15. show at the International Theater in the Asakusa district 1939
16. Waiting for a train in Shinagawa Station 1934
17. Trams in front of Shibuya Station 1939
18. Ascending the steps at Ryodaishi Bridge 1936
19. In front of Ueno Park 1936
20. Tram going to Hibiya 1936
21. Advertising performance on the beach at Kamakura 1934
22. Boy on the beach in Kamakura 1934
23. Morinaga Camp Store near Yuigahama beach in Kamakura 1934
24. A group on Yuigahama beach in Kamakura 1934
25. Kids near Komagata Bridge Asakusa-ku 1938
26. Railway line crossing the Kanda river 1937
27. Water sprinkling cart during the summer in Asakusa Park 1937
28. Sun rising over over the Imperial Palace. Day after the 2.26 Military Coup, 1936
29. In front of the Naval Ministry, Chiyoda-ku, 2.27, 1936
30. Admiral Togo's funeral at Hibiya, Chiyoda-ku 1934
31. Lantern Victory parade in Ueno Park 1938
32. Fixing an electricity pole in front of Ueno Station 1936
33. Ship leaving for America from Yokohama 1936
34. Ship leaving for America from Yokohama harbour 1936
35. Model cable car on the roof of Matsunaga department store 1937
36. Kojimachi-ku Hibiya 1936
37. Entrance to Ueno Station 1935
38. Shadow of a lamp on Ryodaishi Bridge 1935
39. Swing on Yuigahama beach in Kamakura 1934
40. Girl on Yuigahama beach in Kamakura 1934
41. Dancing on Yuigahama beach in Kamakura 1934
42. Student on Ryodaishi Bridge 1937
43. In front of Shibuya Station 1939
44. In front of Shibuya Station 1939
45. Tricolour Coffee Shop in Ginza 1937
46. Newspaper seller on Ginza 4-chome 1934
47. Ueno Station subway 1936
48. Suda-machi Shokudo restaurant 1937
49. Mitsukoshi welcoming Italy 1937
50. Kyobashi-ku Ginza 1935
51. Kyobashi-ku Ginza 4-chome 1935
52. Foreign ladies at Kyobashi-ku Ginza 1935
53. Two men in hats passing Yurakucho Station 1936
54. Girl with parasol in front of Yurakucho Station 1936
55. Reflection in a shop window in front of Ueno Station 1938
56. Cart, car and tram in Nihonbashi 1935
57. New Year's Day a small restaurant near Kaminari-mon Gate 1937
58. Platform of Yurakucho Station in the evening 1939
59. Marunouchi Bridge at Yukakucho 2-chome 1935
60. In front of Police headquarters at Kasumigaseki 1936
61. Subway entrance in front of Ueno Station 1934
62. Crowded tram in front of Ueno Park 1934
63. Five men waiting in the sun. Asakusa Koen, Hyotan Lake 1937
64. Assistant in a tea shop in Minamitama-gun, Asakawacho 1937
65. Two boys in Asakusa koen 6-ku 1937
66. Three ladies in kimonos at Asakusa Shrine festival 1939
67. 7-5-3 Children's festival at Shitaya jinja shrine 1936
68. One the riverbus, one sen class, Sumida River 1939
69. Market street Asakusa Park, Okuyama 1935
70. Street scene in Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1935
71. Street scene in Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1935
72. Snow scene in Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1936
73. Asakusa Temple in Asakusa Park 1937
74. Walking towards Niou-mon gate in Asakusa Temple 1937
75. Two geishas at the Asakusa Temple fair 1937
76. Lady near Niou-mon gate in Asakusa Temple 1936
77. Flea market in Setagaya 1936.
78. Crowded street on New Year's Day. Asakusa Kooen 6-ku 1937
79. puppet performance at Yasukuni Shrine 1938
80. Factory in Adachi-ku Senjumidori-cho 1935
81. Selling bric-a-brac on a bridge in Kyobashi-ku Tsukiji 1937
82. Newspaper stand on a platform of Ueno Station 1937
83. Man smoking in Ueno Park 1936
84. Fortune tellers in Asakusa Park 1937
85. Cherry blossom viewing party in Ueno Park 1935
86. Food stall in a flea market, Setagaya 1-chome 1936
87. Street pedlar at Okuyama Asakusa Koen 1937
88. Pushing a pram in front of a cinema, Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1937
89. Waiting for the Tamagawa train at Shoin Shrine Station, Setagaya-ku 1936
90. On a one-sen riverbus going down the Sumida River 1938
91. On a one-sen riverbus going down the Sumida River 1938
92. On a one-sen riverbus going down the Sumida River 1938
93. Boys reading comics in a book stall 1937
94. Selling ornamental fish during a local matsuri, unknown location 1939
95. Bicycle vendor of toy planes. Shitaya-ku, Ryusenji 1936
96. Boy with dog at Asakusa Koen, Okuyama 1937
97. Three boys playing at Asakusa-ku 1935
98. Shitamachi scene with boy Asakusa-ku 1936
99. Brawling boys Arakawa-ku 1936
100. Looking up at a boy, Chiba-ken Urayasu town 1935
101. Kids below drying racks for washing. Adachi-ku, Senju midori-cho, 1938
102. Daruma-ya. Shitaya-ku Minowa-cho 1938
103. Looking at the tracks. Ryodaishi Bridge Ueno 1937
104. Three boys on a bridge. Chiba-ken Urayasu town 1935
105. Boy in a pram. Arakawa-ku Mikawashima-cho 1936
106. Girl and two boys in front of an old house. Asakusa-ku 1938
107. Grandfather and child in Asakusa Temple Asakusa Koen 1937
108. Kids playing with menko cards. Asakusa-ku Taharacho 1937
109. Boy in admiral's uniform during 7-5-3 Children's Festival, Shitaya Shrine, Taito-ku, 1936
110. Selling toy dragonflies. Higashi Honganji Asakusa-ku 1936
111. Scene in Asakusa Temple Asakusa Park 1934
112. Selling Portrait caricatures. Unknown location 1939
113. Newsagent Asakusa-ku 1937
114. Looking at a magazine. Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1935
115. Cinema Palace Kanda-ku Awacho 1935
116. Pharmacy in Shitaya-ku Shimokurumasaka-cho 1938
117. Hairdresser in Shitaya-ku Shimokurumasaka-cho 1937
118. Self-portrait in the mirror of a hat-cleaner. Asakusa Koen Okuyama, 1935
119. Postbox next to a sign asking for a war donation. Shitaya-ku Shimokurumasaka-cho 1937
120. 'Shina' restaurant advertising draft beer and cutlets. Shitaya-ku Take-cho 1937
121. Poster advertising the American film 'Barbery Coast' Asakusa-ku 1936
122. Cart selling sandwiches Shinagawa-ken Yokohama 1938
123. Advertising actors for a Kansai comedy at Kinryu-kan Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1937
124. Cabaret girls at the Kokusai gekijo theatre in Asakusa 1939
125. Performance at Togeki Theater, Kyobashiku, Tsukiji 4-chome 1934
126. Doll in the window of a mannequin maker. Asakusa-ku Matsukyocho, 1937
127. Performance at the Nichigeki Theater, Yurakucho, 1937
128. Performance at the Shochikuza theater Asakusa Koen 6-ku 1937
129. Shopwindow for Les Belles Modes, Ginza 1930s
130. Street scene at Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku 1938
131. Ryokan in Shitaya-ku Shimokurumasaka-cho 1937
132. Horse feeding at the back of Mitsukoshi Department Store Nihonbashi-ku 1936
133. Delivering food on a bike in Shitaya-ku Ueno Koen 1936
134. Roadside stall near Iwabuchi machi Oji-ku 1938
135. Abandoned tofu vending carts. Shitaya-ku, Nishi-cho, 1938
136. Watching trains Kanda-ku Awajicho 2-chome 1938
137. Watching trains near Ueno Park 1937
138. Reading a newspaper near Ueno Stattion 1934
139. Passing steam engine near Ueno Station 1936
140. School boy watching trains near Ueno Station 1934
141. Family approaching Tokyo Station 1935
142. Sumo tournament at Kokugikan Ryogoku Sumida-ku 1936
143. Jingu Baseball stadium Yotsuya-ku 1935
144. Jingu Baseball stadium Waseda against Keio. Yotsuya-ku 1934
145. Mother and child. Asakusa Koen 1936
146. Children evacuation training at Shitaya Primary School 1936
147. Air-raid drill at Shitaya Primary School 1936
148. Soldiers leaving in front of at Shitaya Primary School 1936
149. Seeing soldiers off. Ueno station 1937
150. Seeing soldiers off. Ueno Koen Yamashita 1937
151. Portrait of a couple. Gotanda Shinagawa-ku 1947
152. Modelling new swimwear. Unknown location 1946
153. Street works in Chiyoda-ku Yurakucho 2-chome 1950s
154. Outside a factory Senju, Adachi-ku Sakuragi 1-chome 1950s
155. Nude photo-shoot outdoors. Unknown location 1948
156. Asahi Beer Building from Azuma Bridge, Taito-ku, 1950s
157. Domon Ken in Chuo-ku Ginza 1950s
158. Street scene. Unknown location 1950s.
159. Street scene. Unknown location 1950s.
160. Street scene in the vicinity of Shinjuku Station 1950s.
161. Leaving a car in front of the Imperial Palace. 1967
162. School girls on a bench on the roof of Seibu Department Store. Minami Ikebukuro 1966
163. 'Asupara C' Yoyogi 3-chome 1960s
164. Relaxing near a pond in Shinjuku Gyoen 1967
165. On the roof of a building near Yoyogi Park 1966
166. A barber's shop at Setagaya Taishido 2-chome 1960s
167. Road building site during the Tokyo Olympics. Unknown location 1960
168. Childrens playground in Shibuya-ku 1975
169. Horse riding at Setagaya-ku Kamiyoga 2-chome 1976
170. Zebra crossing in front of Shibuya Seeibu Department Store. 1975
171. Self portrait of Kuwahara Kineo and his wife in the mirrors of a department store 1975
172. Old man looking at porn magazines in front of Shinjuku Station 1975
173. Unagi outdoor stall near Setagaya Taishido 1975
174. Advert for a strip show at Nichigeki Theater. Yurakucho 2-chome 1950-1960
175. Street scene in Kitasenju Adachi-ku 1976
176. In front of a cinema in Taito-ku 1974
177. Railway bridge crossing the Kanda river 1974
178. Inside the subway Shin Tamagawa Line 1978
179. Five boys sitting on a road-fence Sakuragaoka 4-chome Setagaya-ku 1961
180. Street scene with four girls. Sakuragaoka Setagaya 1976
181. Four boys inside a bus Setagaya-ku 1976
182. Skateboard track on the rooftop of Seibu department store. Ikebukuro 1978
183. Four ladies at a party near the horse track at Setagaya-ku Kamiyoga 2-chome 1981
184. Kissing in front of Kinokuniya bookstore. Shinjuku 3-chome 1988
185. Telephone booths in front of Shibuya Station 1986
186. Bridge near Harajuku Station Jingumae 1-chome 1980
187. Street scene in Minami Aoyama 5-chome 1984
188. Girls waiting for a train at Komagome Station 1986
189. Boys waiting for a train at Komagome Station 1986
190. Tokyo Station through a bus window. Chiyoda-ku 1986
