http://www.akirakai.com/

1972@,A graduate of the Art Department of Nippon University with a major in Photography. 1988@,Establishes foton inc., which becomes the first photography company in Japan to specialize in digital imaging. 2004@,Publishes first photography collection titled “Hoobism” (Little More Co.,Ltd.). 2004@,Holds a one-man exhibition at Bunkamura Gallery in Tokyo. 2005@,Participates in the “2005 Canon Visual Impression”, a group exhibition at the Canon S-Tower in Tokyo. 2005@,Holds second one-man exhibition at Bunkamura Gallery in Tokyo. 2006@,Holds a group exhibition at the Canon S-Tower Open Gallery in Tokyo. 2006@,Holds a one-man exhibition at the Roppongi-Hills Heartland in Tokyo. 2007@,Holds a one-man exhibition at the Roppongi-Hills Heartland in Tokyo. 2007@,Publishes second photography collection titled “ THE DANCING WIND” (Kyuryudo Art Publishing Co., Ltd.). 2010@,is presented as one of twenty superlative photographers, selected from all over the world on the book named 「The Complete Photographer」published from Dorling Kindersley Books UK.

[ Awards ]

2002-2004@,wins the Japan Advertising Photographers' Association ( APA ) Awards three years in a row.　(for the first time ever in the Award's history) Shigene Kanamaru prize in 2002, Public Advertisement prize in 2003 and Public Advertisement Encouraging prize in 2004. 2008@,wins The Japan Book Publishers Association's Chairman Prize at the 42nd The Art of Bookbinding Contest. （"THE DANCING WIND" 2009, publisher :Kyuryudo Art Publishing Co., Ltd.） 2009@,wins The Japan Federation of printing industries Chairman's Prize at the 61st The National Calendar Contest（Year2010 Calendar of Toyo Ink Group by Akira KAI works ）

Graduated from the Faculty of law, Hokkaido University and the founder member of foton inc., which becomes the first photography company in Japan to specialize in digital imaging. As one of the pioneers of Japanese retouchers, has paved the way for the history of creative digital imaging.

1991@,Performing a lecture titled “Hi-Tech and Posters” at the Ministry of Finance 1992@,Performing a special lecture titled “Ultimate Photography—Digital Photographing” at the Society of Photography and Imaging of Japan 1997@,Performing a lecture titled “the Frontline of Digital Photography” at the large hall of Fujifilm Corporation 2000@,Performing a special lecture for Creative Producers in Dentsu regarding “Advertising Work for and with Digital Imaging” 2010@,Holding a seminar titled “Ability of Adobe Photoshop CS5 proved by Photographer and Retoucher” at Apple Store Ginza

2007@,performing a lecture titled "The evolution of Advertising photography by photo retouch" at Photoshop World 2007

[ Awards ]

2007@,wins Dentsu Advertising Awards 2007 2007@,wins New York festivals INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING AWARDS Bronze World Medal 2007@,wins Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prize at APA(the Japan Advertising Photographers' Association)Awards 2008 (Advertising work category)

[WORKS]

Otsuka Pharmaceutical／Kao／SANYO Electric／Shiseido／Coca-Cola／Hitachi／Fujitsu／BIOTHERM／Canon
／HELENA RUBINSTEIN／Johnson＆Johnson／Kanebo／KOSE／LANCOME／L'OREAL PARiS／MAXFACTOR／
MAYBELLINE／NTT DoCoMo／SK-II／UNIQLO／KIRIN／WELLA etc.

2007@,performing a lecture titled "The evolution of Advertising photography by photo retouch" at Photoshop World 2007 2008@,performing a lecture titled "Evolution！State-of-the-art technology of creating portrait photo"

[ Awards ]

2006@,wins the first prize at NIKKEI Advertising Awards 2008@,wins Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prize at APA(the Japan Advertising Photographers' Association)Awards 2009 (Advertising work category) 2012@,wins Excellence Award at APA(the Japan Advertising Photographers' Association)Awards 2013 (Advertising work category) 2012@,wins the Grand Prix at Tokyo Art Directors Club Awards 2012 2013@,wins the first prize at NIKKEI Advertising Awards 62nd 2014@,wins the Grand Prix at Transit Advertising Awards 2014 2015@,wins Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prize at APA(the Japan Advertising Photographers' Association)Awards 2015 (Advertising work category) 2016@,wins Dentsu Advertising Awards, OOH Media Advertising Dentsu Award, Asahi Advertising Award, Pre-Asahi Advertising Award

[WORKS]

HONDA／NISSAN／TOYOTA
Cartier／CASIO／CITIZEN／FRANCK MULLER／TASAKI
Kanebo／Kao／MTG／P&G／SHISEIDO
Coca-Cola／KIRIN／Suntory／UCC
British American Tobacco／Benesse／Japan Post／JT／LIXIL／NTT Communications／Panasonic／
SHARP／SONY／Sumitomo Rubber Industries／TOKYOTOKEIBA／TOPPAN

A graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University. Born and grew up in Tokyo.