Kazuo Kitai, Celebrating the Everyday: A Photography Exhibition at the Japan Culture House

For its upcoming exhibition, the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris will explore the work of Kazuo Kitai. Although less well-known in France and across Europe, Kazuo Kitai is celebrated in Japan as one of the great masters of post-war Japanese photography. Running from April 30 to July 25, 2026, this cultural institution will host a dedicated showcase. Under the title "Kazuo Kitai: Celebrating the Everyday", the exhibition aims to highlight the significant body of work by this photographer, born in 1944, whose images capture student protests, rural struggles, changing landscapes, and even the mundane moments of daily life in Japan.

Renowned for his humanistic approach, Kazuo Kitai first made a name for himself in the late 1960s with documentary series such as "Barricade" and "Sanrizuka." In the 1970s, he turned his lens on disappearing villages in works like "Towards the Villages" and "Familiar Landscapes," before continuing into the 1980s with projects like "Funabashi Story" and, more recently, "Strolling with My Leica" and "Iroha," which delve into everyday Japanese life. His influence is further evidenced by numerous awards, including the Ihei Kimura Prize in 1975 and the Hidano Kazuemon Award in 2024.

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To showcase the humanist spirit of Kazuo Kitai, the Maison de la Culture du Japon will host an exhibition from April 30 to July 25, 2026, featuring nearly 130 photographs. The installation provides visitors with a comprehensive journey through the photographer's work, spanning from his activist series of the 1960s and 1970s to his most recent projects shot at home.

The exhibition is divided into four sections. The first will explore the photographer's early beginnings, while the second will immerse visitors in the nostalgic atmosphere of rural Japan in the 1970s. In the third segment, the Japan Culture House will focus on everyday life among the middle class in the suburban dormitory towns of Tokyo during the 1980s. The final part of the exhibit will showcase the photographer's more intimate, personal works.

To explore the striking images by Kazuo Kitai and his body of work centered on the changing face of Japan, head to the Japan House Cultural Center from April 30 to July 25, 2026.