Japan’s First Pro Photographer Buried His Negatives! [drafts folder]

A black-and-white portrait of an elderly person wearing traditional Japanese clothing, centered on a textured background with red and black borders. The BBC
logo appears in the top left corner.

Did you see this? The BBC just spotlighted the remarkable story of Ukai Gyokusen, Japan’s very first professional photographer. His work dates back to the 1800s, and in a move that baffled historians for years, he actually buried his glass plate negatives underground—almost wiping out his visual legacy altogether.

It’s an incredible mix of mystery, history, and photography. For hobbyist photographers, it’s a touching reminder of how our images—no matter how personal
or professional—can be part of tomorrow’s history. What do you think drove him to quite literally bury his work? Fascinating stuff.

Link to the original story

Read the full story on PetaPixel [https://petapixel.com/2025/09/18/the-curious-case-of-japans-first-pro-photographer-who-literally-buried-his-legacy/]

Imported from legacy forum.