Kenji Takama

Kenji Takama J.S.C. (born March 10, 1949, in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese cinematographer. Takama is a member of the Japanese Society of Cinematographers.

Biography
As a student at Tokyo Metropolitan University, Kenji Takama first studied Economics. Later, he began working as a camera assistant at Wakamatsu Productions and began shooting commercials, leading to his first assignment as a director of photography on the film Gassan (1978). He received a scholarship to the Artists' Training Program of the Culture Agency, and moved to Hollywood, and then to New York. While in the United States, he trained under a number of cinematographers: Harry Wolf for Little House On The Prairie, John Alonzo for Blue Thunder, John Alcott for The Beast Master, Vilmos Zsigmond for Table For Five, Owen Roizman for Tootsie, and Gordon Willis for Broadway Danny Rose (IMDb, 2019).

After returning to Japan, he worked primarily with younger directors such as Naoto Yamakawa, Shusuke Kaneko, Shun Nakahara and Fran Kuzui. He received the best photography award twice at the Yokohama Film Festival: for Summer Vacation 1999 (1988) and Misty Kid Of Wind (1988). At the Osaka Film Festival, he won best cinematography honors for A High School Teacher and Hear The Duck's Song (1993). He also received the Best photography by children Julie at Poland Film Festival for Naran (1995) and was nominated for best photography at the Japanese Academy Award for Welcome Back, Mr. Macdonald (1997). Further, a Japanese Academy Award nom (1998) for  'Rajio no jikan'.

Filmography

 * "Watashi wa zettai yurusanai"(2018)-Director of Photography
 * "The salt of the earth, Gunpei Yamamuro"(2017)-Director of Photography
 * "Madou: After the Rain"(2017)-Cinematographer
 * "Kagami no naka no egao tachi" (2016)-Cinematographer
 * "Manga niku to boku" (2014)-Cinematographer
 * "Yokohama Story" (2013)-Cinematographer
 * "Watashi no michi: Waga inochi no tango" (2012)-Cinematographer
 * "Share House" (2011)-Cinematographer
 * "Jazz Jii Men "(2011)-Cinematographer
 * "Manatsu no yo no yume" (2009)-Cinematographer
 * "Cafe Daikanyama III" (2009)-Cinematographer
 * "Puraido" (2008)-Cinematographer
 * ''Sunshine Days "(2008)
 * The Hole (2008)- cinematographer
 * Cindellera of the Entrance Exam (2008)-Cinematographer
 * Kotatsu neko (2007)- Cinematographer
 * Death Note: The Last Name (2007) - Cinematographer
 * Ulysses - Cinematographer 2006
 * God's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand - Cinematographer 2006
 * Haha: Toyoko, aru kazoku no ai to kanashimi - Cinematographer 2006
 * 9/10 - Cinematographer 2005
 * 'Chô' kowai hanashi the movie: yami no eigasai - Cinematographer 2005
 * Taga kokoro nimo ryu wa nemuru - Cinematographer 2005
 * Life on the Longboard - Cinematographer 2005
 * Synesthesia - Cinematographer 2005
 * Fantastipo - Cinematographer 2005
 * Metasequoia no ki no shita de - Cinematographer 2005
 * Shômei kumagai gakkô (documentary) - Cinematographer 2004
 * Road 88: Deaiji shikoku e - Cinematographer 2004
 * Mousugu haru - Cinematographer 2004
 * Kanzen naru shiiku: onna rihatsushi no koi - Cinematographer 2003
 * Shirayuri Club Tokyo e iku (documentary) - Cinematographer 2003
 * Iden & Tity - Cinematographer 2003
 * Hotel Hibiscus - Cinematographer 2002
 * All About Our House - Cinematographer 2001
 * Murudeka 17805 - Cinematographer 2001
 * Crossfire - Cinematographer 2000
 * Nabbie no koi - Director of Photography 1999
 * Rajio no jikan - Cinematographer 1997
 * Dorîmu sutajiamu - Cinematographer 1997
 * Yukai - Camera Operator 1997
 * Tokimeki Memorial - Cinematographer 1997
 * Kimi wo wasurenai - Cinematographer 1995
 * Naran: White Horse - Cinematographer 1995
 * Shiroi Uma: White Horse - Cinematographer 1995
 * Shoot - Cinematographer 1994
 * High School Teacher - Cinematographer 1993
 * Ahiru no uta ga kikoete kuru yo. - Cinematographer 1993
 * Angel: boku no uta wa kimi no uta - Cinematographer 1992
 * Usureyuku kioku no nakade - Cinematographer 1992
 * Juninin no yasashii nihonjin - Cinematographer 	 1991
 * Kaze no kuni - Cinematographer 1991
 * Jutai - Cinematographer 1991
 * Hong Kong Paradise - Cinematographer 1990
 * Docchini suruno - Cinematographer 1989
 * Kaze no matasaburo - Garasu no manto - Cinematographer 1989
 * Last Cabaret - Cinematographer 1988
 * Tokyo Pop - Camera Operator 1988
 * Summer Vacation 1999 - Cinematographer 1988
 * Yamadamura waltz - Cinematographer 1988
 * New Morning of Billy the Kid - Cinematographer 	 1986
 * Broadway Danny Rose - Camera Intern (uncredited) 1984
 * Table for Five - Camera Intern (uncredited) 1983
 * Blue Thunder - Camera Operator 	1983
 * Tootsie - Camera Intern (uncredited) 1982
 * The Beastmaster - Assistant Camera, Camera Intern 1982	*Gassan - Cinematographer 1978
 * Devil's Song Assistant Camera 1975
 * Tidal Wave - Assistant Camera 1973
 * Sei kazoku - Assistant Camera 1971