1944, is a Japanese photographer. Born in Anshan, China, he began working in photography in the mid-1960s, developing a documentary approach closely tied to the social and political climate of the time. He left Nihon University College of Art after a short period of study and soon became involved in photographing student and worker protests, forming the basis of his early work.

He is best known for his protest photography of the 1960s and 1970s, including projects documenting demonstrations and social movements in Japan. His early photobook Teiko (Resistance) emerged from this context, followed by extended photographic engagement with protest activity over several years. He later turned to rural subjects, producing Mura-e, a year-long documentation of agricultural life in Japan, for which he received the Ihei Kimura Memorial Award for Photography.

From the 1980s onward, his work shifted toward everyday urban life, focusing on communities in Osaka and Tokyo in series such as Shinsekai Monogatari and Funabashi Monogatari. Alongside these projects, he continued publishing photobooks and serial works in photography magazines, including long-running contributions such as Walking with Leica. His later publications and exhibitions reflect an ongoing engagement with documentary practice across different social contexts and periods.

Reference
Shashasha, official website.
https://www.shashasha.co/en/artist/kazuo-kitai