TOKYO, Jan 25 (AFP) - Japanese police are investigating celebrity photographer Kishin Shinoyama for indecency after he took pictures of nude models in public locations around Tokyo, police said Monday.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has sent the case to prosecutors who will decide whether to indict Shinoyama, best known for his nude photo collections of top actresses Rie Miyazawa and Shinobu Otake.

Police charge that Shinoyama, 69, and two models committed acts of public indecency during dozens of nude photo shoots around Tokyo in 2008, including on streets, at the foot of a bridge and in front of a vending machine.

The women, identified by police as "adult video actresses" aged 22 and 26, had posed "in situations that the general public could witness" as they shot the book "No Nude by Kishin 1 20XX Tokyo," a Tokyo police spokesman said.

The photos were all taken between 8:30 pm and 3:15 am in August and September 2008, said police, who raided his studio last year after the book was published.

The maximum punishment for public indecency is six months in jail or a 300,000 yen (3,300 dollar) fine.

Shinoyama's office said he would not comment during the investigation.

The Jiji Press news agency reported that Shinoyama had told police: "I wanted to make a monumental piece celebrating 50 years since I started taking photos but I lacked consideration."