He is born in 1940 in Tokyo, Japan, where he lives and works. The father worked with photography and Araki shows his interest in this art form from an early age but only in the '70s he will find a renown. His first photographs depict natural and urban landscapes. In 1963 he obtains a master's degree in photography and cinematography at the Chiba. In 1964 he won the prize for young photographers Taiyo and in 1965 he holds his first solo exhibition at Shinjuku Station Building in Tokyo. In 1971 he get married to Yoko Aoki and, from that moment, he will show a growing interest for the naked female body, subject which led him to achieve the fame. In 1981 he made his first and only film as director: Diary of a student who tells the story of a young woman who wants to break into the field of soft-porn. Since the 80 he exhibits around the world and his work is appreciated by both audiences and critics. With approximately 16000 pictures taken in a decade, about 200 solo and 150 group exhibitions, Araki’s bibliography is huge and has nearly 300 publications worldwide.