Photographer — Akira Kurosaki Profile

Born in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture. Member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society.
He studied under photographer Kazuhiro Kawashima and became a freelancer in 1977. He works mainly in the magazine and advertising industries, focusing on portrait photography.
He began documenting Tama Zenshoen in 2001.

▼Approximate schedule for the day

"Taking photos at Zenshoen with a professional photographer" - Why not think about Hansen's Disease while taking photos inside the sanatorium? - Event report

On Saturday, September 29, 2018, we held the "Take Photos of Zenshoen with a Professional Photographer" event.
Although it was a light rainy day, four young people between the ages of 17 and 25 gathered in the morning with their cameras. The participants first learned basic knowledge about Hansen's Disease from a lecture by a curator in The National Hansen's Disease Museum training room, then received a lecture on photography from photographer Kurosaki Akira, and immediately began taking photos within Inside the sanatorium. As all of the participants were visiting the sanatorium for the first time, they were first shown around A Hill of Nostalgia, Yamabukisha, the religious area, and then freely photographed Inside the sanatorium with their own digital cameras. After that, each person returned to the museum, selected five to ten photos, printed them on slides, and held a critique session.
The participants shared their thoughts about the photos they had taken, and then Kurosaki gave them a critique. Regardless of their experience with photography, the participants' works all showed a fresh sensibility as they recalled the various places in the sanatorium, and it was clear that they had taken the photos while imagining the history of the sanatorium and the lives of the residents. Kurosaki was also surprised and impressed as he gave his critique. The participants listened intently to Kurosaki's critique, and asked many questions.
The event was also attended by many Former leprosy patients and other photographers, making it a very fulfilling day. Below are some comments from participants.

• It was a very nice project where I could walk around Zenseien, take a picture of what I thought each time, and look back. Mr. Kurosaki's words, "I want to keep it as a record," are very memorable. (21 years old, female)
• I've known Zenseien for a long time, but I've never been there, and through this project I was able to deepen my understanding of Hansen's Disease (17 years old, male)
• I think it's a very meaningful activity. I learned a lot about Hansen's Disease and Tama Zenshoen by learning photography techniques and knowledge from Mr. Kurosaki. (25 years old, female)

The purpose of this project was to target a generation that did not know about the abolition of Leprosy Prevention Law and the state compensation lawsuits in real time, and to encourage them to think about and deepen their learning about the path walked by Leprosy patients and Former leprosy patients through photographing inside the sanatorium.
We would like to continue planning events aimed at young people in the future, but we would also like to change the target audience and consider planning events that more people can participate in.
We hope for your continued support and cooperation.

The National Hansen's Disease Museum Division social enlightenment Division Chief Curator Kim Kibun

Opening ceremony, orientation	A brief overview of the history of Hansen's Disease Inside the sanatorium
Advice from photographer Akira Kurosaki on photography	Advice from photographer Akira Kurosaki on photography
Departure for photography Inside the sanatorium	Ossuary
Chuo Street	Shrine Street
Commentary from Curator Kim	Commentary from photographer Akira Kurosaki
Yamabukisha	Religious Area
Nagayo Shrine	Individual photo selection
presentation	Comment
presentation	Comment
presentation	Comment
presentation	Comment
discussion	discussion
Gallery Viewing	Photo Exhibition "Suruga - Living at the Foot of Mt. Fuji"
Summary comments and closing ceremony	Group photo

A collection of works taken by the participants