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Place of birth: Hiroshima Prefecture
1975: Graduated from Tokyo School of Art, Photography and Design, Tokyo, Japan. Awarded
the Artistic Photography Excellence Prize as a sophomore.
1975: Joined Tokyo Azabu Photo Studio
1977: Joined Tenmei Kano Photo Office (Roppongi Hills, Tokyo) Work: Portrait photographs of
entertainment, political, and cinemagraphic celebrities (Shintaro Ishihara, Akira Kurosawa,
Shintaro Katsu, Toshiro Mifune, Yuko Asano, Momoe Yamaguchi etc.) for magazines and movie posters
1979: Joined Minsei Tominaga Photo Office (Harajuku, Tokyo) Work: Commercial photography
(Toyota, Shiseido, Sony, Isetan, Suntory, TDK cassette tapes, Nescafe, SEIKO) Locations:
Okinawa, Hokkaido, Saipan, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Arizona (Navajo Indian
Village), Los Angeles, Germany, France, Mexico, Alaska and New York.
1982: Moved to the U.S.: Pratt Art School (New York City), photography (assistant instructor),
lithography and silkscreen (student).
1984: Joined The New York Yomiuri Press
1988: Established Shozo Kato Studio (Chelsea)
1991: Moved studio to Lafayette Street (SoHo)
May 1998: Obtained Kendo Kyoshi Certification (All Japan Kendo Federation)
November 1998: Obtained 7th dan in Iaido (All Japan Kendo Federation)
November 1999: Obtained Iaido Kyoshi Certification (All Japan Kendo Federation)
1999: Moved studio to Stamford, Connecticut (Art Village Association)
2003: Opened Shozo Photo Art Studio in New Rochelle, New York (Media Loft)
May 2010: Obtained 8th dan in Kendo (All Japan Kendo Federation)
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I am exploring the spiritual connection between martial arts and fine art. My focus is on artistic
photography production while concurrently leading the instruction and management of
Shidokan NY Kendo and Iaido Dojo, which I founded 40 years ago. I am in pursuit of timeless
images, especially through the use of classical lenses.
Analog photography has a supple and indescribable taste. If you would like to have your portrait taken in analog (film size: 6×6 4×5 8×10), please contact the gallery.