1949
Born in Osaka, Japan

1963-69
Lived, studied and started photography in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi pref.

1969-70
Studied at Nihon University, College of Arts, Tokyo

1970
Moved to New York City

1974
Established Kenro Izu Studio in New York. Start working in commercial photography, specialized in Jewelry and small precious objects.

1979
The first visit to Egypt, and impressed deeply with the sacred sites, made with massive stones and its sense of impermanence. The experience motivated him to start the series of "Sacred Places" of the world.

1983
Witnessed a beauty and intense rendering of atmosphere, produced by contact-printed Platinum/Palladium print by Paul Strand, he decided to proceed the medium to document a series of "Sacred Places" and obtained a Deardorff custom made camera which produce 14 inch by 20 inch negative.

1984
The 3rd trip to Egypt with the 14"x20" camera, and the result of images convinced him to continue his all photography by this method. Since then, he traveled and photographed repeatedly to the sacred sites of England, Scotland, France, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and USA. In this year, using the 14"x20" camera, start photographing floral studies titled "Still Life".

1993
The first visit to Angkor monuments in Cambodia, and deeply inspired of the mortality of all. In the same time he was inspired of the preciousness of all life form at ruined temples of Angkor. From the experiences of Angkor, he was motivated in sacred sites of Asia, and start traveling and photographed; Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Syria, Jordan, Burma and China. This year, the first photography of human body study as a part of the series; "Still Life" started.

1995
During a photography series of "Light Over Ancient Angkor" in Cambodia, he witnessed many child victims of landmine, and unnecessary death of children, due to lack of medical care and a poverty in the country. He decided to create a free children's hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and founded a not-for-profit organization; Friends Without A Border in New York. In 1999, Angkor Hospital for Children opened its door, since then the 50 beds pediatric general hospital treated over 650,000 children to date.

1997
The first visit to the sacred sites in the kingdom of Mustang in Northern Nepal, located high on Himalayan region, he became interested in the sacred sites in the countries in Himalayan, which include Tibet, Ladakh (India), and Bhutan.

2002
Developed a technique of "Cyanotype over Platinum print", to render a deep and dark image in blue, and to capture the beauty in shadow, an inner sanctuary of a human.

2004
Completed a series of "BLUE" and series of exhibitions and a book titled "BLUE" was released.

2002-2007
A series titled "BHUTAN sacred within" were photographed with his first attempt of portraiture, inspired by the people of Bhutan, whose selflessness and the nation's ideology; "Gross National Happiness".

2008
The series titled "INDIA sacred within" project is started, aiming to document diversity of people, location, culture and religion to portray and study the spirit of India.

2009
Mark 30th year of his photography, since the first visit to Egypt. 30 year Retrospective book is scheduled to be published in early 2010.

2010
Relocation of the Izu studio to Rhinebeck, NY where Izu family now reside.

2012
The process of localization of <Angkor Hospital for Children> successfully completed.

2013
Hand-over the AHC, from <Friends Without A Border> to the newly established Cambodia based NGO <Angkor Hospital for Children International> and Izu continues to serve as a board.
Friends starts working a new project, <Lao Friends Hospital for Children> in Luang Prabang, Laos.