John Foster is a photographer and writer from New York now living in Japan. He is the author of Geisha & Maiko of Kyoto: Beauty, Art, & Dance (Schiffer Publishing 2009), One Hundred Views of Kyoto (Toho Publishing 2008), and One Hundred Views of Maiko and Geiko (Toho Publishing 2006).

In addition to his photography work, Foster is an award-winning short film director. His first film, Rendezvous with Zack, won Best Short Film at two film festivals in the United States and appeared on Starz and the Action Channel for two years. His second film, Kyoto Nocturnes, Part I: Elegant Slaughter, won Best Noir Film at the Dusk Til Dawn Film Festival and was nominated for the Best Director and Best Cinematography awards at the Terror Film Festival. Kyoto Nocturnes has screened at 21 film festivals in the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and Mexico.

Foster also has an M.A. in T.E.S.O.L and has taught literature, drama, writing, and ESL/EFL at several universities and colleges in the United States and Japan.