Fujii Hideki

Fujii Hideki introducing one of his Fujiigraphy prints.

Fujii Hideki 藤井 秀樹 (1934.8.28 - 2010.5.3) Tokyo.

Prominent photographer of actresses, glamour work, and advertising. Former president of the Japan Advertising Photographers' Association (APA). Former Vice-Principal and later Principal of the Nihon Shashin Geijutsu Senmon Gakko photo school in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Major themes Women covered in body make-up, Japanese actresses and models, nudes

Education Nihon Univ., Tokyo, photography dept.

Career Assistant to AKIYAMA Shotaro 1953-56. Fashion photographer with Fujin Seikatsu-sha publishing co. for Fukuso magazine 1957-60. Advertising photographer for Nihon Design Center, Tokyo 1960-63, where major clients included Toyota Motors, Asahi Kasei, and Nikon Camera. Freelance from 1963 in fashion and advertising. Oversaw Max Factor's Japan campaign in 1965.

Established Studio F in 1965. Created his body make-up (artistic make-up on nude bodies) series from 1983.

Fujii became interested in photography while in high school. One day, he happened to photograph a movie theater on fire. His photograph was subsequently published in a newspaper. This made him decide to pursue photography professionally. While studying photography at the university, he worked as an assistant to the famous AKIYAMA Shotaro. Fujii later became one of Akiyama's most successful disciples.

After learning the ropes with Akiyama, fashion photography at Fujin Seikatsu-sha, and commercial photography at the Nihon Design Center, Fujii effectively paid his dues and came across his big break with Max Factor who hired him for a poster with model OKA Hiromi.

He is most famous for photographing women. His artistic photographs of Japanese women are exquisite such as super model Sayoko Yamaguchi. He has also employed meticulous body painting (itself a work of art taking hours to complete) on nude bodies and created compelling images.

His nude photo book (Madame D-Syuga) on Devi Sukarno, the Japan-born, former wife of the former Indonesian president, caused a stir in 1993. Current works have included photos printed on non-conventional material such as Japanese washi paper, and adding painting strokes by a painter artist. He calls it Fujiigraphy.

Operated out of his Studio-F in Atsugi, Kanagawa Pref., Fujii was highly active as a photographer, teacher, guest speaker, and artist. He died of liver cancer at age 75 in 2010.

Official website: fgraphy.com (English provided)

Awards Film Prize at 20th Festival International depth of field Film Publicitaire, Cannes France 1973. Silver Lion Award; Art Directors Club of New York 1985; Award of the Year, Photographic Society of Japan 1985.

Dewi Sukarno - Madame-D Syuga

Reviewed on: 1997.09.17 Last modified: 2005-07-30

Nude photos of the former wife of the former president of Indonesia. A Japanese born and raised in Japan, Dewi Sukarno found herself married to the president of Indonesia before age 20 in 1962.

Published: Nov. 1993 More info Publisher: Scholar Co. More info ISBN: 4796201386 More info Price in Japan: ¥4,800 (original price) More info Qualities: Hard cover, color photos More info Size: A4 oversize, pp. More info Language: Japanese

Hideki Fujii uses a lot of exquisite Japanese elements such as the kimono. His models are first class, and he poses them in very exotic and erotic ways without being sleazy. His make-up artist and stylist are also highly skilled. He is best known for nude and glamour photos. His photos can be very beautiful and striking.

This photo book is Dewi's first. She agreed to do it only when she found out that Fujii was going to be the photographer. She had seen some of his work before and was very impressed. But she did not know his name until she was shown his sample work. She liked his photos of women in kimono and the painted nude bodies.

Dewi was one of nine wives in the lifetime of Achmed Sukarno (1901-1970), the president of The Republic of Indonesia from 1945 to 1967. She married him in March 1962 and they had a daughter named Kartika. After the change of government, she lived in Paris, New York, and Tokyo.

Fujii gathered the best staff, wardrobe, and props he could find for the shooting which took place in Tokyo, Kyoto, Indonesia, and Paris over a three-month period. The first-class staff and materials are evident in the photos.

For her age, Dewi looks pretty good. In her youth though, she must have been a really stunning woman. A lot of Japanese elements are included in the photos: A Noh mask, kimonos, and traditional Japanese hairstyles. Then there is the fine body make-up (painting) by Teruko Kobayashi. She uses the body as her canvas to create colorful drawings on Dewi.

On location in Indonesia, Dewi is dressed in Indonesian costume surrounded by traditionally-dressed Indonesian children. About half the photos in the book are nude, and one or two photos with pubic hair. The nude photos have her wearing a kimono, in the bubble bath, or with Kobayashi's make-up art. The pictures have no captions. The settings and costumes reflect Dewi's multi-cultural background very well. The book comes with an insert containing signed messages (translated into Japanese) from her friends such as Alain Delon and Tadanori Yokoo.

When the book was published, it was scorned in Indonesia for "violating eastern norms and insulting Indonesia's dignity." The Attorney-General's office banned the book in Indonesia.

In 1998, an Indonesian magazine called "Indonesia What's On" published a few of the photos without permission. In March 2002, Dewi testified in Jakarta District Court against the magazine's publisher, Warsito Wahono, for violating property rights. She had found out about the publication from an Indonesian friend and filed a complaint with the police in Jakarta in Feb. 1999. Hopefully, she will win the case.

Actresses - 藤井秀樹女優作品集

Reviewed on: Oct. 18, 1998 Last modified: 2005-04-03 Hideki Fujii photographs famous Japanese actresses in exquisite ways using a lot of Japanese elements. A two-volume set.

日本の美を追求する藤井先生が撮った25人の日本人女優さん。ほとんど着物姿。

Published: Oct. 7, 1994 Publisher: Take Shobo ISBN: 4884759125 Price in Japan: ¥4,893 Qualities: Hard cover, color photos, cardboard sleeve Size: A4, 174 pp. (black volume), 96 pp. (red volume) Language: Japanese and names in English

This is an elegant two-volume set that comes in its own cardboard sleeve. The black volume is the thicker one and it contains exquisite photographs of many famous Japanese actresses. Most of these portraits were taken in the studio or in a Japanese room with tatami mats. Almost all the actresses are in a kimono. Japanese props are often used such as a tea cup, an umbrella, bamboo, and an urushi lacquered box. The color photos are large, with many two-page spreads. The make-up and wardrobe are first-class. Fujii is a master photographer of women in kimono.

There are several photos of each of the 25 actresses. They are Sayuri Yoshinaga (in kimono), Yoshiko Mita (in kimono), Yoko Yamamoto (in kimono), Yuko Asano (still in her 20s), Ayumi Ishida (in kimono), Shima Iwashita (in kimono), Izumi Yamaguchi, Yutaka Nakajima (sexy), Yumi Takigawa (in kimono), Yuko Kotegawa, Yoshie Ichige (in kimono), Judy Ongg (in kimono), Nana Kinomi (in kimono), Keiko Takeshita (in kimono), Yasuko Sawaguchi, Nana Okada (in kimono), Hiroko Shino (in kimono), Aki Mizusawa (in kimono), Keiko Oginome, Rino Katase, Sayoko Yamaguchi (ultra-exotic), Yoko Isono (in kimono), Yukiyo Toake (in kimono), Masako Natsume, and Keiko Matsuzaka (in kimono).

Sayoko Yamaguchi by Hideki FujiiMy favorite is Sayoko Yamaguchi who was Japan's most famous model in the late 1970s and early '80s. She was the advertising poster girl for Shiseido Cosmetics. The exotic make-up which painted her face white like a geisha was her trademark. Her eyes were also strongly accented. It was almost like kabuki make-up. We wouldn't recognize her without make-up on. This black volume is certainly a milestone photo collection of actresses.

In the thinner, red volume, lesser known actresses are posed nude with a wide variety of props and pieces of clothing. The following actresses are featured: Kyoko Aizome, Noriko Hayami, Mari Kisaragi, Yoko Anju, Miyoko Sometani, Asami Oka, Natsuko Takami, Naomi Kawada, Rei Akasaka, Aya Kisaragi, and Kei Mizuno.

Again the photos are exquisite and you can recognize Fujii's own photographic style. He uses a lot of veils and other see-through materials as props. He also shows his Fujiigraphy color pictures on interesting materials such as marble and canvas (using film emulsion painted on the surface). Of course, the kimono is also present. Even erotic body paintings are shown. This pair of photo books are among the best there is. (Reviewed by Philbert Ono)

Biography in Japanese

1934：東京生まれ。

1952：サン写真新聞優秀報道写真賞受賞。

1954：東京都立白鴎高等学校卒業。日本大学芸術学部写真学科入学。秋山庄太郎氏に師事。

1957：雑誌「服装」専属写真家として婦人生活社入社。

1960：日本デザインセンター設立とともに入社、トヨタ・旭化成・ニコンなどの広い広告写真を撮影。

1963：フリーとなる。

1965：スタジオ・エフ設立。マックスフƒ@ƒNター国内キャンペーンの写真を担当。

スペイン新聞広告金賞受賞。ADC(Art Directors Club)銀賞受賞。

朝日新聞広告賞受賞。

1973：カンヌ国際フィルムフェスティバルLION DARGENT賞受賞。

ヨーロッパ・フォトユニオン主催の大会(ウィーン)に講師として招請される。

西ドイツAWI名誉会員となる。

1974：大和紡績カレンダー撮影。

1975：『ZOOM』誌29号で藤井秀樹特集掲載。

1982：ハンブルグにおいて自由創作写真デザイナー連盟大会より講師として招請される。

1983：学校–@l呉学園日本写真芸術専門学校講師として招聘される。

1985：日本写真協会年度賞受賞。第64回ニューヨーク・アートディレクターズクラブ写真部門銀賞受賞。トリオ・ケンウッド賞受賞。

1986：第21回日本広告写真協会賞金賞受賞。

1989：第27回中華民国第27回国際撮影中国撮影学会審査委員。

1990：シシリーのワークショップに講師として招請される。

1991：AIPAインド広告写真協会よりワークショップの講師として招請される。

目黒・雅叙園においてフジイグラフィーによる大理石作品ほか恒久展示。

1992：シシリー島でのワークショップの講師として招請される。

1993：劇団四季『ハムレット』ポスター撮影。

1994：ベルギー・セントルーカスカレッジに特別講師として招請される。

『マダムバタフライ』（渋谷・オーチャードホール）のポスター撮影。

『サンデー毎日』誌の著名写真家シリーズに連載。

主な写真展

1970：個展「Past」(銀座・ニコンサロン)

1974：個展(ハノーバー・スペクトンギャラリー)

1975：個展(アムステルダム・キヤノンサロン、パリ・フナック)

1976：「ヘルムート・ニュートンとの二人展」 (ロンドン・フォトグラフƒ@[ズギャラリー)

1977：個展(イギリス・ノッテンガム・トロント工芸大学、ミラノ、アントワープ)

個展「51人の女」(東京、大阪)

1978：個展「藤井秀樹一人と作品」(原宿・京セラコンタックスサロン、大阪・三越)

個展(シアトル、バルセロナ)

1979：個展「The origin of Japanese photograph and Now(今日の日本写真とその起源)」 (ボローニャ、ミラノ、ブラッセル、ロンドン、ハーグ、パリ) 個展「藤井秀樹の世界−日本の女」(銀座・カネボウシグナス)

1980：個展「藤井秀樹の世界−日本の女」(名古屋)

1981：個展「からだ化粧」(新宿・オリンパスギャラリー)

1982：個展「Karada Kesho」（ハンブルグ・オリンパスギャラリー、パリ）

個展「火を見た裸体」(六本木・ギャラリーワイド)

個展「女のかたち」(銀座・富士フォトサロン)

1983：個展「Karada Kesho」

(パリ・オリンパスギャラリー、ニューヨーク・アートディレクターズギャラリー)

個展「The Best of HIDEKI FUJII」(ニューヨーク・ニコンハウス)

1984：個展「Karada Kesho」(アムステルダム、ローマ)

1985：個展「L'image de Pastel 彩」(銀座・ナガセフォトサロン)

1986：個展「はないくさ」

1987：個展「彩 藤井秀樹の世界」(台北)

1988：個展「彩 藤井秀樹の世界」(台中、高雄、台南)

個展「アイスランド大地の造形」(新宿・オリンパスギャラリー)

個展「Fグラフィによるフォトエッチング」

(東京・コニカフォトギャラリー、大阪、名古屋)

1989：個展「The Best of Hideki Fujii」（ロンドン・ZOOMギャラリー） 「Europalia'89」（ベルギー）

個展「四海雲遊−千年和紙によるFグラフィ」（東京・コニカフォトギャラリー）

1990：個展「四海雲遊−千年和紙によるFグラフィ」

(大阪・コニカフォトギャラリー、名古屋）

個展「フジイ・グラフィ」（モントリオール）

1991：個展「フジイ・グラフィ」（パリ）

個展「フジイ・グラフィによるFANTASIA」 （東京・コニカフォトギャラリー、名古屋、大阪）

1992：個展「藤井秀樹展」「ゆめ」（東京）

個展「ミステリアス アイスランド」（横浜・シイベル フォトセンター）

個展（小山・ギャラリーA1）

1993：個展「水の精−からだ化粧」（東京・ペンタックスフォーラム）

個展「水の精−からだ化粧」「秀雅」（大阪・ペンタックスフォーラム）

1994：個展「ラレ−城の影−'94ペンタックスカレンダー作品」

（東京・ペンタックスフォーラム、大阪）

個展「Yumi」（銀座・コダックフォトサロン）

1996：個展「一花一葉」

（銀座・京セラコンタックスサロン、ドイツ・ライカ本店ギャラリー）

個展「藤井秀樹の世界展 ときをとめて」（名古屋三越・栄本店イベントホール）

1997：個展（神戸・生田神社）

個展「一花一葉」（EXHIBITION SPACE東京国際フォーラム）

日本広告写真家協会会員

日本写真家協会会員

日本写真芸術学会会員

日本写真芸術専門学校副校長

(http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/photographer/2001_06fujii/profile.htmlより）

Written by Philbert Ono