ArtGuest UserHiroshi Nagai, graphic, art, japanese art, japanese artist, A Long Vacation, Eiichi Ohtaki, sunny day service, fujiwara hiroshi, hideki saijo, illustration

Hiroshi Nagai: Colouring Japan's Graphic Scene

ArtGuest UserHiroshi Nagai, graphic, art, japanese art, japanese artist, A Long Vacation, Eiichi Ohtaki, sunny day service, fujiwara hiroshi, hideki saijo, illustration
Hiroshi Nagai: Colouring Japan's Graphic Scene

Hiroshi Nagai is a renowned Japanese illustrator/graphic designer. From album covers to advertisements, his style is recognizable but range of work is diverse.

Born December 22 of 1947 in the Tokushima prefecture, Hiroshi is one of Japan's most respected illustrators. He started working professionally as a graphic designer in 1970, and soon after took a 40 day trip to the United States in the summer of 1973. This trip had great impact on him, leading to him taking another journey to Guam in 1974. This trip to Guam took Hiroshi's breath, and greatly inspired his art style from that point on. His signature beach & blue sky illustrations all took off from here. 

 
 

In 1975, Nagai started to receive guidance from Japanese illustrator Teruhiko Yumura, and 3 years later became independent. His career really sparked from there, focusing mainly around album covers for a wide variety of musicians in Japan. Perhaps his most well-known and celebrated piece ever, is the cover art for Japanese J-Pop & City-Pop artist Eiichi Ōtaki's hit album "A LONG VACATION". The artwork to this 1981 album became so well-known that it was almost the first thing you thought of when hearing it's name, even before the music itself. The cover won SONY CBS's Golden Disc award, establishing his status and making his art-style even more concrete than it already was. 

 
 

Although A LONG VACATION is probably his greatest work, Nagai also made artwork for many other artists, both big and small. Hideki Saijo, Southern All Stars, Sunny Day Service / @sunny_day_service , and even Hiroshi Fujiwara / @fujiwarahiroshi are just some of the names that he has done work with. 

 
 

Aside from album art, Nagai has done work for ads, commercials, events, and more. He also holds exhibitions, and has released a book which showcases his collection of works, titled "Time goes by...".

 
 

Enjoy some of Hiroshi Nagai's iconic & tropical illustrations and pieces throughout, and get feel the warm summer feeling from wherever you are.

And yes, he also DJs.

 
 
 
 

Clothing, MusicGuest Userfujiwara hiroshi, Frangment, nikehtm, hiroshi, fujiwara, hip-hop, boygeorge, japanese music, punk, afrikan islam, japanese hip hop, japanese fashion, japanese designer, DJ

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ArtGuest UserKeiichi Tanaami, Tanaami, art, pop-art, Japanese artist, mandala, Adidas, Moncler, super flat movement, war, Picasso, pop art, comics, astro boy, manga, WWII, trauma, Tadanori Yokoo, studio, Nanzuka, advice, ora margolis

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ArtGuest UserKeiichi Tanaami, Tanaami, art, pop-art, Japanese artist, mandala, Adidas, Moncler, super flat movement, war, Picasso, pop art, comics, astro boy, manga, WWII, trauma, Tadanori Yokoo, studio, Nanzuka, advice, ora margolis
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