Item #9422 [Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects]. Morinosuke Kamikihara.
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].
[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].

[Collection of Professional Photographs by Previously Interned Japanese American with mostly Japanese American Subjects].

San Francisco: Mori Studio, [circa 1946-mid-1950s]. 62 black and white photographs measuring 5” x 7”. Generally very good plus with a light curl.

This is a collection of photographs created by Morinosuke Kamikihara's Mori Studio in San Francisco. They are duplicates from a larger collection we sold several years ago. Kamikihara's photos were included in an exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in 2016, “Making Waves: Japanese American Photography 1920-1940.” From that exhibition catalog we learn:

“Kamikihara was born in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on March 28, 1904. After coming to the United States, he adopted the name Jack. Before WWII, he attended the New York Institute of Photography, and he photographed the city’s famous buildings. In California, he operated a studio inside the Union Laundry at 2310 Filbert Street, Oakland, and he may have, for reasons unknown, exhibited as Kiyoshi or Jack Tanaka.

He married and had two children, a boy and a girl. His 1942 Alien Registration Card indicates that the family’s residence was located at 2021 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, the same address as the Motoyoshi Studio, which he apparently operated. When WWII began, he and his family were incarcerated at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. In 1944, he was allowed to work at the Murray Photographic Studio in Omaha, Nebraska, after which he and his family returned to San Francisco where he opened the Kami Studio in his home at 1849 Laguna Street. He also worked in the middle to late 1950s aboard various ships as a cook or clerk. At some point during his life, he worked for the railroads and received a pension upon retirement. In 1954, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Kamikihara died March 26, 1988.”

We think all of the photos here were created after the war, as part of Kamikihara's Mori Studio at 1849 Laguna Street which is the address that appears on his stamp. The collection is a mix of studio portraits, wedding portraits and some candid shots including celebratory dinners. Most show Japanese Americans, though a few show African Americans, Filipinos, and/or caucasians implying that the local community welcomed this photography firm after the war.

An exceptional collection of lovely portraits by a previously interned Japanese American photographer who was able to rebuild his business after World War II. Very good +. Item #9422

Price: $875.00

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