Mimura Akira was a cinematographer and film director during the Taisho and Showa periods, born in Etajima, Aki, Hiroshima, Japan. He was one of the pioneers of Japanese cinema photography and is known internationally as Harry Mimura (ハリー・三村).

He graduated from Zushi Kaishin Junior High School in 1919 and traveled to the United States in September of the same year. After attending school in Seattle, he graduated from the preparatory school at Nicholas Sen University in Chicago in 1924. It is said that he decided to enter the film industry with the intention of dispelling the growing anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States and showing Americans the true image of Japan.

In 1925, Mimura studied at the New York School of Photography's film department, and from 1929 to 1934, he became the first Japanese to join the New York Camera Union. At that time, it was extremely difficult for Orientals, including Japanese, to join the union as they did not have citizenship. Mimura became the first Japanese camera assistant in Hollywood, where he acquired his cinematography skills.

After losing his job due to a strike at the union, he returned to Japan in 1934 and joined PCL as a skilled cameraman proficient in using the new Mitchell camera. He made his debut in cinematography with the film "Mud on Silk".

In 1946, at the request of the strategic bombing survey team of the occupying forces, Mimura participated as the only Japanese member in the US military film unit filming the aftermath of the atomic bombing in his hometown of Hiroshima.

In 1947, amidst the turmoil of the Toho labor dispute, he joined the newly established Shin Toho founded by volunteers. In 1954, he shifted to Nikkatsu, which had resumed production, and directed his first and only feature film, "The Vanishing Platoon." Afterward, he worked for Tokyo Eiga, Shochiku, and Toei before leaving the film industry in 1963 to become a freelancer.

He also served as the inaugural chairman of the Japan Society of Cinematographers (J.S.C.) and devoted 17 years to the publication of "Eiga Satsuei", the only specialized cinematography magazine in Japan.

His biography, "From Seirin to Hiroshima: The Life of Movie Cameraman Harry Mimura" by Kudo Miyoko, was published by Shobunsha in February 1985.

His father was Rear Admiral Mimura Kinzaburo, who served as captain of the battleships Kirishima and Hyuga.

(Source: Japanese = Wikipedia || Translation = MyDramaList) Edit Biography