Crossing the new border
Along with his wife, Ishigaki Shincho repatriated to Ishigaki Island. Initially, he managed to survive by farming. But there was an increase of demand in professional photography. Hence, he restarted his photography business on the island. Because materials and facilities for photography were not available in the island, for a while he smuggled in the materials from Taiwan. Later, he smuggled in photographic film, used by the U.S. Air Force in the main island of Okinawa, and utilized it as a substitute for portrait film.
Ishigaki passed away in 2009. But his photo studio, Nansei Photo Studio (Southern Stars Photo Studio) continues to operate today. It is managed by his son and his grandson and is one of the oldest photo studios on Ishigaki Island.
