ARAKI Nobuyoshi: Biography

25.5.1940

Born in Minowa, a shitamachi area (traditional working-class neighborhood) in Tokyo.

1963

Graduates from the engineering department of Chiba University with a major in film and photography. Enters a major advertising agency Dentsu as a commercial photographer.

1964

Wins the 1st photo contest of The Taiyo (Sun) magazine for Satchin, a series of photographs featuring kids from the shitamachi area in Tokyo.

1970

Using Dentsu’s Xerox copier, privately publishes Xerox Photo Albums (25 volumes in all, each limited to 70 copies) and mails them to friends and art critics.

1971

Marries Yoko Aoki. Privately publishes a record of their honeymoon, Sentimental Journey.

1972

Quits Dentsu to become a freelance photographer. Over the next forty years, becomes one of the most prolific photographers of all the time. Publishes over 500 photo-books and exhibits in numerous exhibitions both within and outside Japan.
Currently lives and works in Tokyo, Japan.

Selected Awards

1964

The 1st Taiyo Prize

2008

Austrian Decoration of Honor for Science and Arts

2011

The 6th Ango Prize

2013

Special Award of the 54th Mainichi Art Award