Taikichi Irie
Encyclopedia
Taikichi Irie (November 5, 1905 – January 16, 1992) was a Japanese
photographer. He concentrated on Yamatoji (historical sites of Nara Prefecture
) and Buddhist statues.
Irie was born in Nara
. He started photography in his teens, influenced by a brother. He began work in a camera store in Osaka
in 1925 and in 1931 set up his own company in Osaka, Kōgeisha (光芸社), which did product and advertising photography as well as selling photographic goods. He started taking photographs of bunraku
in 1939 and in 1942 had his first solo exhibition (in Osaka), of bunraku
puppets. His house in Osaka was destroyed in a bombing of 1945, and he escaped to his family home in Nara.
Irie's photographs of Buddhist imagery were published as early as the early 1940s, and in 1958 he embarked on what would be a stream of books of such photographs, which had commercial success.
In April 1992, three months after Irie died, a museum largely devoted to his works was set up in Nara: .
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
photographer. He concentrated on Yamatoji (historical sites of Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
) and Buddhist statues.
Irie was born in Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
. He started photography in his teens, influenced by a brother. He began work in a camera store in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
in 1925 and in 1931 set up his own company in Osaka, Kōgeisha (光芸社), which did product and advertising photography as well as selling photographic goods. He started taking photographs of bunraku
Bunraku
, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
in 1939 and in 1942 had his first solo exhibition (in Osaka), of bunraku
Bunraku
, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
puppets. His house in Osaka was destroyed in a bombing of 1945, and he escaped to his family home in Nara.
Irie's photographs of Buddhist imagery were published as early as the early 1940s, and in 1958 he embarked on what would be a stream of books of such photographs, which had commercial success.
In April 1992, three months after Irie died, a museum largely devoted to his works was set up in Nara: .
Books of Irie's works
very incomplete- Bunraku (文楽). Tokyo: Sōgensha, 1954.
- Tōdaiji (東大寺). Nihon no Tera 1. Tokyo: Bijutsu Shuppansha, 1958.
- Yamatoji (大和路). 2 vols. Tokyo: Sōgensha, 1958, 1960.
- Butsuzō no hyōjō (仏像の表情). Tokyo: Jinbun'ōraisha, 1964.
- Koshiki Yamatoji (古色大和路). Tokyo: Hoikusha, 1971.
- Tōshō Daiji (唐招提寺). Tokyo: Mainichi Shinbunsha, 1973.
- Yamato no matsuri (大和の祭り). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1974. Irie Taikichi (入江泰吉, Taikichi Irie). Nihon no Shashinka 10. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1997. ISBN 4-00-008350-3. A concise survey.
- Irie Taikichi no Yamatoji (入江泰吉の大和路). Tokyo: Shōgakkan.
- 1. Koji to mihotoke (古寺とみほとけ). 1996. ISBN 4-09-559301-6.
- Kodō to nobotoke (古道と野ぼとけ). 1996. ISBN 4-09-559304-0.