What Camera Gear do they use?

  Ihei Kimura: The Leica Poet Who Defined Modern Japanese Photography Introduction Ihei Kimura (木村伊兵衛, 1901–1974) was one of Japan’s most revered photographers — a visual storyteller who shaped the nation’s photographic identity before and after World War II. Known for his candid portraits and street photography, Kimura brought a distinctly humanist sensibility to his work, turning everyday life into elegant visual poetry. As a founding member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society and a mentor to generations of image-makers, Kimura was instrumental in popularizing 35mm photography in Japan at a time when large-format cameras dominated. His preferred tool — the Leica rangefinder — allowed him to work quickly, quietly, and with an intimacy that transformed how Japan saw itself. Camera Gear Kimura’s philosophy was simple: the smaller and quieter the camera, the closer one could get to the truth. He was among the first Japanese photographers to embrace Leica rangef...