Kisei KOBAYASHI

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Photographer / Professor of Tokyo Polytechnic University

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JP

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Kisei KOBAYASHI was born in Nagano, Japan, in 1968. Kobayashi graduated from the photography program at Tokyo Polytechnic University. He is currently a professor at the Department of Photography, Faculty of Arts, Tokyo Polytechnic University. After working as a photographer for a newspaper, he became an independent photographer in 1991. He has traveled throughout Asia, creating photographic works. In recent years, his focus has shifted toward documenting rituals in Japan, beginning in his hometown of Suwa, Nagano Prefecture. 

 

In addition to his photographic practice, he has written travelogues, nonfiction, and novels. His published books include "ニッポンの奇祭", "見知らぬ記憶", "愛のかたち", "まばゆい残像", "孵化する夜の啼き声", "深い沈黙" and "写真はわからない". In 1997, he received the New Photographer Award from the Photographic Society of Japan for his photo collection “Days Asia”. In 2013, his exhibition “遠くから来た舟” won the 22nd Tadahiko Hayashi Award. In 2021, his debut film “Tooi and Masato” (トオイと正人) won the New Director's Award at the Bangkok International Documentary Film Festival and also received accolades at the Tokyo Documentary Film Festival 2021 and other festivals. The film was officially invited to the EBS International Documentary Film Festival 2022 (Korea).