Biography
1970 Born in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
1990 Work for a scuba dive facility at Osezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
1992 Obtain PADI Divemaster certification
1993 Obtain PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification
1997 Start activities as a freelance underwater photographer
1997 Start photographing plankton, inspired by Turritopsis spp. encountered in the sea of Fukushima
2000 “Marine Decapod and Stomatopod Crustaceans mainly from Japan”, published by Bun-Ichi Sogo Shuppan
2001 Serial articles for monthly “Diving World” magazine
2002 Shooting crew of a special high vision program, “Sea of Mystery - North Mariana Diving Trip”, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Company)
2009 Serial articles for monthly “DIVER” magazine
2010 “Pocket size illustrated guide – Japanese Marine Fish 466”, published by Bun-Ichi Sogo Shuppan
2013 “Coral reef shrimps of Indo-west Pacific”, published by Bun-Ichi Sogo Shuppan; “Underwater shooting technique with digital cameras”, published by Seibundo Shinkosha
2014 “Pictorial book of the most beautiful squid and octopus in the world”, published by X-Knowledge – All commentaries and part of photos
2014 Project proposal and partial shooting for NHK’s TV program “Here Comes Darwin! New Legend of Life - Risking a life to approach the violent titan triggerfish”.
2015 “A Photographic Guide to the Jellyfish of Japan” – a compilation of Ryo’s plankton photos, published by Heibonsha
2015 Start producing Black Water Dive® events in Japan and abroad
2017 Grand Prize Winner of the 5th Annual Nikkei National Geographic Photo Prize
2017 First solo exhibition, ”The Secret World of Plankton" at Foto Care Gallery, New York City, US
2017 Have experienced more than 20,000 dives
2018 A partial shooting for NHK’s TV program "Attention! Super dangerous creatures of the sea"
2018 Project proposal for NHK’s TV programs including “Comes Darwin! New Legend of Life - Chea leader of the sea! pom-pom crab”.
2018 Published the photographic Guide "Tokimeku Kurage zukan"
2018 Published the photo book "Jewels in the night sea"
2018 Held a solo exhibition "Jewels in the night sea" at CANON Gallery in Ginza, Nagoya, Osaka