Hiroyuki Izutsu (Japan)

Hiroyuki Izutsu was born in Tokyo in 1955. In 1998 he won one of the annual illustration prizes awarded by the Kodansha publishing house. In 2005 his work was displayed in an exhibition organized by the Nihonbashi Takashimaya art gallery.

Clients: Kodansha, Bungeisyunju, Sinchousha.

Website: Hiroyuki Izutsu

Email: izutsujimusyo@hkg.odn.ne.jp

"My style is unreal realism, freedom and elegance." -- Hiroyuki Izutsu

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p.96, 99)]

Hiroshi Yoshii (Japan)

Hiroshi Yoshii is one of Japan's most important digital artists and the designer of some of the most famous characters from Japanese TV shows, ad campaigns and websites. He was also one of the first to use Corel Painter for digital illustration and has written several books on the subject. He is currently working on his own animated series.

Clients: Sony, NTT Docomo, Microsoft, Pixologic, Total, Le Point, SVM Publications, DCNS, Gloria Jean's, Scholastic, Ontex, ALC, ASCII, Japan Telecom, TV Tokyo, Nippon Television Network.

Website: Hiroshi Yoshii

Email: hiroshi@yoshii.com

"In Japan, people's cultural backgrounds are very similar, and this allows artists to express ideas that are completely understood from the outset without any need to go into lengthy explanations."

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p.93)]

Hiromi Toriyama (Japan)

Hiromi Toriyama was born in Osaka in 1981 and graduated from Osaka University of Arts in 2004. In 2007 she opened her own studio, Studio: mu, in partnership with Natsuko Yoshino. Of all the awards she has won, the most noteworthy is the top prize in the design category at the 57th Kansai Nika Exhibition.

Website: Hiromi Toriyama

Email: hiromi-toriyama81@yahoo.co.jp

Lesson I (2007)

Lesson II (2007)

Lesson III (2007)

Sunset (2007)

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p.89)]

Hiroaki Yamadera (Japan)

Hiroaki Yamadera was born on 4 July 1972. He worked in a design agency for 10 years but in January 2008 he resolved to devote himself full-time to his work as a freelance illustrator. His drawings are notable for the way in which they remain open to interpretation, allowing viewers to exercise their imagination.

Clients: Stern, Ciao, Deep Forest.

Website: Agency - Art Liaison

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p.81)]

Hiroshi (Hal) Watanabe (Japan)

*Click for HAL WATANABE HOMEPAGE!

Hal Watanabe was born in 1956. After graduating in design from Musashino Art University, he worked as a designer before becoming a freelance illustrator. He has been working with Mac computers for over twenty years. He now concentrates on commissions for publishers, particularly book and magazine covers.

E-mail: hiroshi9@mac.com

fooRider (Japan)

FooRider was born in 1983 in Shiga, in the Kinki region. His illustrations were first published in the February 2005 issue of MdN magazine. Completely self-taught, FooRider has created a distinctive imaginary world that draws on hip-hop, martial arts, B-movies and traditional Japanese culture.

"My work combines urban youth culture with traditional Japanese art. If you asked me what the difference between Japanese and Western illustration is, I'd say that the former has a bigger pop-culture influence than the latter." -- FooRider.

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p. 54, 57, 60)]

Click for his WEBSITE and BLOG!

Hong Kong Night

2006

Seven Heaven

2006

Ukiyoe Love

2007

Seven Heaven

2008

• Why did you decide to become an illustrator?

Because I want to express myself and influence people's mind. I like drawing above all else. I decided to devote myself to illustration when I received my first commission, at the age of twenty. I was so happy! I had to design and illustrate T-shirts for a sporting goods firm.

• How do you choose the colours for your illustrations? They are a distinctive element of your work...

I normally choose dark, nocturnal colours, which are the ones I like most. The night holds secrets... In my illustrations, something has happened at night, but we don't know exactly what. The night is for ninjas! I also often use the colours found in traditional Japanese art.

• What technique do you use to draw?

My techniques are very simple. My illustration work on the basis of perspective, which gives them depth and movement. This makes your mind wander through the illustration. The dark colours also help, obviously.

• What is the difference between illustration or pop art and so-called high culture?

I don't think there's any clear difference. For me, illustration is an art just like any other. If it affects you one way or another, then it's good, it's high culture.

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p. 60)]

Eito Yoshikawa (Japan)

The artistic career of Eito Yoshikawa (b. 1971 in Osaka) began in 1988. His first exhibition took place in 1993, in the Paradise Gallery in Osaka. This was followed by others in Hyogo, Kyoto and Tokyo. In 2005 the publisher of the newspaper Asahi Shimbun organized an extensive exhibition of his work.

"My illustrations are based on Buddhist philosophy." -- Eito Yoshikawa.

[Derived from: Campos, C. (2011) Japanese illustration now. London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson Ltd.. (p. 50, 52)]

Click for his WEBSITE!

During the evening and night

2004

Acrylic

Love in a distant place

2005

Acrylic