Issue:
April 2026 | Exhibition
Photos by Tadahiko Hayashi and Yoshikatsu Hayashi
From April 4 — 24
Our exhibition for April will feature photographs by the late Tadahiko Hayashi and his son Yoshikatsu Hayashi, showcasing the Hayashi family's photographic journey across six generations and 130 years from the Meiji era through to today.
Tadahiko Hayashi was born in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, as the third-generation owner of the family’s photo studio established in 1897. From an early age, he aspired to be a photojournalist, working in China during WWII. In its aftermath, he photographed Japan as it recovered from defeat, and was one of the first Japanese photographers to shoot in America. Having risen to prominence with his photographs of writers such as Osamu Dazai and Ango Sakaguchi, the Tadahiko Hayashi Photography Award—one of Japan's three major photography awards—was established in 1991, bearing his name.
First-generation and photo studio founder Takejiro Hayashi was succeeded by his daughter Ishi (2nd generation), with her eldest son Tadahiko (3rd generation) achieving considerable success behind the lens. Studio ownership then went to his son Yasuhiko (4th generation), while his brother Yoshikatsu became a well-known photographer. Yasuhiko’s son Yoshiaki (5th generation) next inherited ownership of the studio. The 6th generation Sotaro is currently in training, marking approximately 130 years of history for this family of photographers.
While Tadahiko's life's work was portrait photography, his final project was documenting the ever-changing "Tokaido" road. This work was later taken over by his fourth son, Yoshikatsu, who accompanied him, and focused on photographing the Silk Road. This exhibition introduces works by each photographer, documenting their respective eras.
Peter Lyon, chair of the Exhibition Committee
