Born 1933 in Yamagata Prefecture. 1950, began to learn English at a US military base and photographed the American children there. 1951, was awarded the grand prize at the 1st Fuji Photo Contest and decided to become a photographer. 1954, graduated from Tokyo College of Photography Department of Photography (now Tokyo Polytechnic University). Met Q Ei through Demokrato Bijutsu Kyokai and was heavily influenced. 1956, held his first solo exhibiton at Konica Photo Gallery in Ginza. 1959, was involved in the foundatio of VIVO (disbanded in 1961). 1960, awarded the Newcomer Award from the Photographic Critics Society of Japan and the Fuji Photo Contest Annual Artist Award. 1963, received the Artist Award from the Photographic Critics Society of Japan for the series "Barakei (Ordeal by Roses)". 1970, received the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts for the series "Kamaitachi". 1975, became a professor at Tokyo College of Photography (now Tokyo Polytechnic University). 1982, held solo exhibitions across the US and in Paris, and won the Paris Award. 1983, received honorary award at the Arles International Photography Festival. 1994, became a professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University School of Art. Awarded the 1993 Annual Award from the Japan Photographers Association. 1995, became the first director of the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts. 1998, became a full time professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University School of Art (retired 2003) and a full time professor for the school's Master's program (moved to the doctorate program in 2002). Awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal. 2003, received the 150th Special Anniversary Medal from the Royal Photographic Society in London. 2006, became the first Japanese to receive the Lucie Award (USA). 2010, was selected as a Person of Cultural Merit. 2017, awarded with the Order of the Rising Sun.