The Domon Ken Award (土門拳賞, ''Domon-Ken-shō'') is one of Japan's photographic awards. The award was started in 1981 by the Mainichi Newspapers to mark the 110th birthday of the '' Mainichi Shimbun'', its daily newspaper and main publication, in honor of the photographer

Ken Domon is one of the most renowned Japanese photographers of the 20th century. He is most celebrated as a photojournalist, though he may have been most prolific as a photographer of Buddhist temples and statuary. Biography Domon was born in Sakata, Ya ...

. It has been awarded every year since 1982. The Domon Ken Award is given to a single established photographer for a published book of documentary photographs. Together with sample photographs, an announcement is made in ''

Sunday Mainichi Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. In most Western countries, Sunday is a day of rest and a part of the weekend. It is often considered the first day of the week. For most observant adherents of Christianity, Sunday ...

'' (and previously in '' Camera Mainichi'' as well). Award-winning works are shown in the Ginza

Nikon Salon is the name given to exhibition spaces and activities run by Nikon in Japan. The Ginza Nikon Salon (in Ginza, Tokyo) opened in January 1968 (with an exhibition of work by Ihei Kimura) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nippon Kōgaku (later ren ...

and the

Domon Ken Photography Museum The was opened in 1983 in Sakata, Yamagata (Japan), the birthplace of the photographer Ken Domon. On the occasion of becoming the first honorary citizen of Sakata in 1974, Domon donated his entire collection of works to the town. This prompted t ...

. The major rival to this award for attention in the mass media is the Kimura Ihei Award, given annually to one or more newcomers.

Winners

Notes

External links

*{{in lang, ja}
List of award winners
with links to their books at an online bookstore. Awards established in 1981 Japanese awards Photography awards Photography in Japan 1981 establishments in Japan