Hideoki

Hideoki Hagiwara, is a Japanese photographer, based in the United States, who was the first successful fashion photographer in the United States born in Japan.

Hideoki was born in 1942 during the gruelling Second World War. His family found solace and shelter in the abundant countryside of Chiba, where not only Hideoki's love for nature arose but also his independent and defiant character developed. Hideoki's yearning to find his path through life collided with the strict social standards that all Japanese must follow. He found comfort in nature by swimming and climbing mountains excessively. Mountaineering became an integral part of Hideoki's life. The existentialist ideas of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and the writer Herman Hesse inspired his adolescent years. 

His restlessness and urge to find his purpose in life led Hideoki to the United States in 1963, where he quickly built up a successful career as a photographer for fashion magazines. 

Hideoki returned to Japan in 1973 for a visit with Mary and Mitsu to meet the family and to show them his native country. During their trip, they came across an 'okame' mask and the male version called 'hyotokko' and decided to buy them just for fun. Hideoki encouraged Mary to wear the mask while he photographed her and Mitsu, resulting in an entire series of 'Okame’ which is both whimsical and carries the message of defiance against the expectations of Japanese society in a playful way.

From 1976 until 1982, Hideoki lived and worked in Japan with his family, where he also spent a significant amount of energy and time climbing mountains, photographing Japan's beautiful nature, and organising exhibitions of his work. 

In the decades after Hideoki returned to the United States in 1982 indefinitely, he established a successful production company, traveled to and photographed in Africa and Patagonia, and found new ways to express his boundless creativity in painting and ceramics, which he continues to enjoy doing until today.