Shoji Uchida (1903-1999) was a Japanese photographer and filmmaker who is best known for his work in the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Tokyo, Japan, and studied photography at the Tokyo School of Photography.
Uchida's career began in the late 1920s when he worked as a freelance photographer for various magazines. He quickly gained recognition for his work, which often featured images of everyday life in Japan. In 1931, he published his first book of photographs, titled "The Life of Japan". This book was well-received and established Uchida as one of the leading photographers of his time.
In 1934, Uchida joined the staff of the Asahi Shimbun newspaper as a staff photographer. During this time, he traveled extensively throughout Japan to capture images of everyday life. His photographs were often used to illustrate stories about rural life in Japan during this period.
In 1941, Uchida joined the Japanese Imperial Army as a war photographer. He documented many battles during World War II and captured some of the most iconic images from this period. After the war ended, Uchida returned to civilian life and continued to work as a freelance photographer until his retirement in 1975.
Throughout his career, Uchida's photographs were widely published in magazines and newspapers around the world. His work has been exhibited at numerous galleries and museums including The Museum of Modern Art in New York City and The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. In addition to photography, Uchida also wrote several books about photography and filmmaking techniques which are still used today by aspiring photographers around the world.
Shoji Uchida passed away on April 15th 1999 at the age of 96 leaving behind an impressive legacy that continues to inspire photographers today.