The artistic community has lost another one of its notable illustrators on Oct. 27 when the great Japanese illustrator, Noriyoshi Ohrai, passed away at 79 years of age due to Pneumonia. A vigil will be held on Oct. 28 from 5:00P.M. and the funeral on the noon of Oct. 29 at Miyazaki City, Japan.
It truly is a sorrowful day not only for the artistic community but for the film and gaming community as well since Master Ohrai is the artist responsible for many posters, book covers and illustrations in computer games. Some of his notable works in the film industry includes the international poster arts for "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back," "Godzilla" and its eight subsequent films and "Goonies," among hundreds more artworks.
The gaming community knows him as well for his work on the Metal Gear series, most recently on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and his artwork for the game series can also be seen in the Portable Ops "KonamiStyle Limited Premium Pack."
Noriyoshi Ohrai was born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1935. In 1957, he dropped out of the Oil Painting Course at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and five years later, in 1962, his work as an illustrator began. During the 1980s, after he worked on the international poster for "Star Wars," he was awarded the Seiun Best Artist Award at the Japanese Science Fiction convention.
His first exhibit as an artist was held in 1981 at Miyazaki Prefecture's Aoki Gallery, after his "Star Wars" poster design created a surge of demand for his artworks. Recently, his works have been displayed on exhibit in 2014 and 2015, also in Miyazaki Prefecture.
You can view some of his artworks on display in the Noriyoshi Ohrai Exhibition Facebook page.
Rest in peace, Master Ohrai, and thank you for your contributions in the art community as well as for inspiring the youth in their artistic pursuits.
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