Ken Domon Museum of Photography

The Ken Domon Museum of Photography is a photographic art museum that houses about 70,000 works by Ken Domon, a Sakata-born photographer regarded as one of the leading figures of Japan’s Showa era. Works featured in collections such as “Hiroshima,” “Koji Junrei (Pilgrimage to Ancient Temples),” and “Murouji” are introduced along with Domon’s own words and writings—ranging from realism-focused photojournalism to lifelong documentation of Japanese traditional culture from his unique perspective. Stepping outside and looking around the building, you’ll notice its stylish appearance that almost seems to float on the surface of a lake. The museum was designed by Yoshio Taniguchi, the son of architect Yoshiro Taniguchi, who was a close friend of Domon. Key parts of the museum—including design, gardens, and objects—were handled by artists close to Domon and their children. Domon is quoted as saying, “A good photograph isn’t taken, it happens,” and he reportedly called photographs where success came from turning mistakes into breakthroughs “oni-ga-tsuita” or “the demon helped” photos. Among the vast archive in the museum, visitors can find many powerful works that evoke that sense of “oni.”