Harry Kinji Shigeta

Born in Ueda Town, Chiisagata District (now part of Ueda City), Nagano Prefecture. In 1902, Shigeta left Ueda Middle School and migrated to the United States. After experiencing various jobs, he enrolled at the St. Paul School of Fine Art with the aim of becoming a painter. Around this time, he touched cameras for the first time and started to learn the skill at a photography studio. In 1910, he moved to Los Angeles and began working in portrait photography. In 1918, he opened his own studio and photo school, among whose students was Toyo Miyatake. Shigeta closed his studio in 1920 and started to work for Filmland magazine in Hollywood as an actors’ photographer. In 1924, he moved to Chicago, where he kept working in the commercial photo field. He also joined the Fort Dearborn-Chicago Camera Club, and in 1930, he established Shigeta-Wright Studio with his fellow photographer George P. Wright. They expanded the business in color photography and advertising photography. Even during the Wartime, Shigeta was allowed to work in advertising photography, but with some restrictions. After retiring in 1958, he moved to Los Angeles.