Description: gravure from Bunka Shashin Shu that includes a label that details title, photographer’s credit, and contect information (won in the honorable mention group).

Published by Shashin Bunka Kyokai (Photographic Culture Society):

The Shashin Bunka Kyokai or Photographic Culture Society was founded in 1922 by Shugoro Tsujimoto, the wealthy owner of the photographic printing company Tsujimoto Shashin Kogesha (Tsujimoto Photographic Industrial Arts Company). This society's main goal was to promote art photography and did so by holding photo concours in which artists won cash awards as well as publication in the society's magazine, Bunka Shashin Shu.

This magazine was intended to be a monthly publication, but due to disagreements among the society's members concerning format and printing styles, Bunka Shashin Shu failed. It ceased publication the same year it was launched and only three issues were known to have been published. This was; June 1, 1922, August 1, 1922, and Sept. 1, 1922.

Concerning the photo concours held, prominent art photographers were called upon to judge these exhibitions. This included; Tetsusuke Akimoto (who introduced pigment printing to Japan), Ryoko Kawabata, Yuki Rinzo, Ikunosuke Shirataki, Yoshitaro Mori, and Hisui Sugiura. Of the top 35-40 winners the first place finisher was awarded 50 yen, the second place finisher 30 yen, the third place finisher 10 yen, and honorable mentions 5 yen. This was a handsome sum of money during that time for an average months wage was approximately 60 yen.

As for Tsujimoto, he died in 1947 at age 78.