Ichiki Shirō

Ichiki Shirō (市来 四郎, January 29, 1828 – February 12, 1903) was a pioneering Japanese photographer.

[1] Ichiki was born in Satsuma Province (now Kagoshima Prefecture) in Kyūshū on 24 December 1828.

[1] He excelled in the study of topics related to gunpowder production in the Takashima-ryū school of gunnery.

This talent was recognized by Shimazu Nariakira, the daimyō of Satsuma, who selected Ichiki to be one of his personal retainers.

Ever fascinated by Western technology, he ordered his retainers (including Ichiki) to study it and produce working photographs.

Ichiki's daguerreotype of Shimazu Nariakira , the earliest surviving Japanese photograph