HOSHINO Michio

HOSHINO Michio 星野道雄 (1952-1996.8.7) Ichikawa, Chiba Pref.

Wildlife photographer, especially grizzly and polar bears.

Education Graduated Keio Gijuku Univ. in 1976.

Career Apprenticed under TANAKA Kojo. Attended Univ. of Alaska but dropped out in 1982. Lived in Fairbanks, Alaska with wife Naoko and a year-old son.

Ironically killed by a brown bear while working on a wildlife TV documentary in Kamchatka, Russia for Japan's TBS TV station. He was dragged out of his tent in the middle of the night by the bear. Film crew members (who were in a hunting lodge) could do nothing as no one had a firearm. Hoshino's remains were found at daybreak.

When he got married, he promised his wife that he would stop going to dangerous places and switch to photographing flowers instead. A memorial fund has been established to help his family. Checks can be made out to Friends of Michio Hoshino and sent to Mount McKinley Bank, PO Box 73880, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707-9966.

Awards Anima Award, 1986; Kimura Ihe'e Award, 1989.