Kenji Jacklio Fukudome

Kenji Jacklio Fukudome passed away peacefully on November 28, 2025, at the age of 62, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration, strength, and resourcefulness.

Born in Kagoshima Prefecture in Southern Japan, Kenji grew up in a small village. He spent his days wandering the neighboring woods and mountains—mountains he later called his Dad’s Mountains.

He would later say that those woods shaped him into the determined, self-taught, relentless Kenji that his friends and family knew so well. Kenji arrived in San Francisco in 1981 with the American dream in his heart. His unconventional view of life was what drew him to the U.S.

He rapidly learned English, always carrying a small notebook and pen to write down new words as he heard them. His passion for photography began when he realized that a single image could make someone “cry, laugh, or rage.” Through his craft he met countless friends—many who became family. Kenji studied at Brooks Institute of Photography, graduating in 1989 and honing his career as a wedding and portrait photographer. His photography and joyful spirit drew many to him.Often he would photograph a wedding couple, and years later photograph that same couple through pregnancy and growing family portraits.

In 1994, Kenji attended the Body Therapy Institute in Santa Barbara, studying massage to better understand and gain insight into photographing the human body.

He loved shiatsu massage because of his cultural upbringing. At that time, he was curious about how the body functioned and how to keep it well. He took photographs of the school for their brochures, eventually creating a massage practice named Touch and Tranquility.

Kenji opened his first photography studio in 1996, quickly becoming a sought-after talent known for his portraiture work in both formal studio settings and environmental locations. He found true passion in his individual creative endeavors, often focusing on large bodies of work united by a shared conceptual theme. His most recent project was a 30-day studio portrait challenge.

Kenji leaves behind his brother and sister, two nieces, three nephews, and his mother (Kaachan), whom he FaceTimed with every day over the past three years. Those daily visits meant the world to both of them.

We will remember Kenji for his joy in teaching, problem-solving, and, of course, his radiant spirit of life.

A celebration of his life will be held on his birthday, January 4, 2026, at Leadbetter Park at 10:00 a.m.