The Life & Art of
Tokyo, May 25, 1940
Biography
Araki Nobuyoshi (荒木 経惟) is a Japanese photographer born in Tokyo on May 25, 1940. He is widely recognised as one of the most prolific and influential photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, known primarily for his deeply personal and often provocative works that blur the boundaries between art and life.
After studying photography, Araki began his career working for the advertising agency Dentsu, where he met his future wife, Yoko. Following their marriage, he published Sentimental Journey (1971) — a groundbreaking collection of intimate photographs taken during their honeymoon — establishing his signature style of raw, unfiltered emotional documentation.
Yoko passed away from ovarian cancer in 1990. The photographs of her final days were published as Winter Journey, a deeply moving and unflinching meditation on love, loss, and mortality that remains one of his most celebrated works.
Nobuyoshi Araki was born in the Minowa district of Tokyo on May 25, 1940. He grew up near the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter, an environment that would profoundly influence his later artistic vision.
After completing his studies in photography and film at Chiba University, Araki joined Dentsu, Japan's largest advertising agency. Here he honed his craft and met Yoko Aoki, who would become his wife and lifelong muse.
Published his first major self-produced photobook Sentimental Journey, documenting his honeymoon with Yoko. This intimate, diary-like approach to photography became his defining artistic signature.
During the 1980s, Araki focused his lens on Kabukichō, the legendary red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The resulting photographs became Tokyo Lucky Hole, a raw and unflinching portrait of Japan's nightlife subculture.
Following Yoko's death from ovarian cancer, Araki published Winter Journey, a deeply personal requiem documenting her final days. The work stands as one of photography's most powerful meditations on love and loss.
Publisher Heibonsha released a monumental 20-volume anthology encompassing Araki's production through the 1990s, including Naked Faces, Bodyscapes, Yoko, Chrysalis, Bondage, Sensual Flowers, and more.
Araki was awarded the prestigious Medaille für Wissenschaft und Kunst by the Republic of Austria, recognising his extraordinary contribution to the world of visual arts.
Photography is about capturing the emotions between life and death, love and loss. Every photograph I take is a record of a feeling that will never return.
— Nobuyoshi Araki
Works & Legacy
Araki is renowned for his prolific output — he is considered one of the most productive artists in history, with over 500 published books. His subjects range from deeply intimate portraits and street photography to flowers, food, Tokyo cityscapes, and his beloved cat Chiro.
He has contributed to major magazines including Playboy, Déjà-Vu, and various art publications worldwide. Though his work has sometimes courted controversy — he was arrested multiple times in Japan on obscenity charges, though never imprisoned — his artistic vision has been consistently validated by the world's most prestigious art institutions.
The musician Björk is a well-known admirer: Araki shot the cover of her remix album Telegram and an entire photo session, portions of which appeared in the album booklet. He later photographed pop icon Lady Gaga. In 2005, director Travis Klose produced the documentary Arakimentari about his art and life.
Tate Modern, London
SF MoMA, San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
Fondazione Bisazza, Italy
Centre Pompidou, Paris
1970
Xeroxed Photo Album 1-25 — Self-published, Tokyo
1971
Self-published, Tokyo — Re-edited by Kawade Shobō Shinsha, 2016
1990
Ohta Shuppan, Tokyo — International edition: Taschen, 1997
1993
Magazine House, Tokyo
2002
Taschen, Cologne
2005
Phaidon, London
2011
Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo
2018
Skira, Milan
2020
With Juergen Teller — Steidl, Göttingen
Exhibitions
Honours & Recognition
In 2008, Araki was awarded the Medal for Science and Art by the Republic of Austria — one of the country's highest cultural honours. His works are preserved in permanent collections at institutions including the Tate (London), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and numerous other major museums worldwide.
Explore the Collection
Explore our curated collection of prints, photobooks, and limited-edition works by Nobuyoshi Araki.