Shoichido Kurihara

Kurihara was a talented commercial photographer active in Tokyo during the 1930s and 1940s. In addition to his commercial work he also did artistic views of city and country life, as well as abstract compositions of objects. He also had some sort of affiliation with the Ashiya Camera Club (ACC) as he entered competitions held by this legendary photo group based in the Kansai area. From 1930 to 1942 when they disbanded, the members of ACC were some of the most influential modernist photographers in Japan employing radical design concepts which became labeled as “Shinko Shashin” or new photography movement. Some of the members included Iwata Nakayama, Kanbei Hanaya, Kichinosuke Benitani, Seiji Korai, Kenichiro Yamakawa and Juzo Matsubara. It is not exactly known what Kurihara’s affiliation with this group was, but the fact that he entered their competitions and won top honors indicates he was influenced by this group.

All of these Kurihara prints were acquired from a Tokyo antique dealer in 2005 and were loosely enclosed in a vintage photo album. Many of the prints contained Kurihara’s inscriptions, signature and red hanko stamp, as well as ACC photo competition award certificates.

Image: twin lanterns, with award certificate.
Item #: AP-132
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1942
Price: 125,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print
Image: Javanese shadow puppet
Item #: AP-136
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1942
Price: 100,000 JY
Description: ferrotyped gelatin silver print.
Image: study of apple tray on tatami, with award certificate.
Item #: AP-147
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1942
Price: 120,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print.
Image: maidens at shrine entrance.
Item #: AP-129
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara.
Date: 1940
Price: 125,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print.
Image: study of Japanese war bonds.
Item #: AP-149
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1942
Price: 100,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print.
Image: commentary on the dangers of smoking.
Item #: AP- 134
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1942
Price: 100,000 JY
Description: toned bromide gelatin silver print.
Image: "Keshin (Faith).
Item #: AP-130
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara.
Date: 1940
Price: 120,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print with retouching done to accentuate image.
Image: fashion image of Japanese model.
Item #: AP-131
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1940
Price: 75,000 JY
Description: glossy gelatin silver print.
Image: rural farm scenic.
Item #: AP-135
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara.
Date: 1940
Price: 90,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print.
Image: fish drying on rack.
Item #: AP-148
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1940s
Price: 65,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print, ferrotyped.
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Image: shrine altar.
Item #: AP-133
Artist: Shoichido Kurihara
Date: 1940s
Price: 55,000 JY
Description: gelatin silver print.
Item: Ashiya Camera Club.
Item #: SD-107
By: Ashiya City Museum of Art.
Date: 1998
Price: 18,000 JY
Description: book produced by the Ashiya City Museum of Art, beautifully printed plates on Japanese washi paper.