View source for Hajime Sorayama

{{Short description|Japanese illustrator (born 1947)}}
{{third-party|date=July 2017}}
{{Eastern name order|Sorayama Hajime}}
{{Infobox artist
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| name          = Hajime Sorayama
| image         = 
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| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1947|2|22|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Imabari, Ehime|Imabari, Ehime Prefecture]], [[Japan]]
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| nationality   = [[Japanese people|Japanese]]
| field         = [[Erotic illustration]]/robot art
| training      = Chuo Art School
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| influenced_by = 
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| awards        = 
| website       = {{Official website}}
}}

{{nihongo|'''Hajime Sorayama'''|空山 基|Sorayama Hajime|born February 22, 1947}} is a [[Japanese people|Japanese]] illustrator known, along for his design work on the original [[Sony AIBO]], for his precisely detailed, erotic portrayals of feminine robots. He describes his highly detailed style as "superrealism", which he says "deals with the technical issue of how close one can get to one's object."<ref name="pinupfiles" />

==Early life==
Hajime Sorayama was born in 1947 in [[Imabari]], [[Ehime]] prefecture, [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hajime Sorayama: What to Know About the Artist |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/tag/hajime-sorayama/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Highsnobiety |language=en-US}}</ref> He received his basic education at Imabari Kita High School where he began drawing Playboy inspired pin-ups.<ref name="totodigio" /> He was influenced by [[Makoto Oda (novelist)|Makoto Oda's]] book ''Nandemo Mite yaro ("I'll go and see everything")'' about his travels through Europe and Asia; Sorayama took interest in Greece and decided to enter Christian [[Shikoku Gakuin University]] to study [[English literature]] and Ancient Greek.<ref name=totodigio>
{{cite web 
 | title = Hajime Sorayama: The Airbrush Legend (interview)
 | publisher = totalgraphic.wordpress.com (totodigio)
 | date = 9 January 2008
 | url = https://totalgraphic.wordpress.com/maestros/hajime-sorayama/
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208103501/http://totalgraphic.wordpress.com/maestros/hajime-sorayama
 | archive-date = 2012-02-08
}}
</ref> In his second year, he founded the school magazine, ''Pink Journal'', but criticism motivated him to leave for Tokyo's Chuo Art School in 1967 to study art.<ref name="pinupfiles">{{cite web|url=http://www.thepinupfiles.com/sorayama.html|title=Hajime Sorayama pin-up girls &#124; The Pin-up Files|publisher=www.thepinupfiles.com|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170616/http://www.thepinupfiles.com/sorayama.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="biography">Sorayama's official biography http://www.sorayama.net/html/47_78.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721230804/http://www.sorayama.net/html/47_78.html|date=2015-07-21}}</ref><ref name="totodigio" />

Sorayama graduated in 1968 at the age of 21, and gained an appointment in an advertising agency. He became a freelance illustrator in 1972.<ref name="biography" /> In 1978, he drew his first robot. Of this subject, he wrote: "A friend of mine, the designer [[Hara Koichi]], wanted to use [[C-3PO]] from ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' for a [[Suntory]] poster presentation. But time was short and there were problems with copyright fee[s], so I was asked to come up with something."<ref name="totodigio" />

==Career==

Sorayama is known for his [[fine art]], illustration, and [[industrial design]]. Of the distinction between the first two, Soryama commented in an interview: "Unlike art, illustration is not a matter of emotion or hatreds, but an experience that comes naturally through logical thinking."<ref name="pinupfiles" />

Sorayama began drawing erotic art of [[gynoid]] robots in 1983.<ref name="Metal">{{Cite web |title=Hajime Sorayama {{!}} Metal Magazine |url=https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/article/hajime-sorayama-machines-with-sex-appeal |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=metalmagazine.eu |archive-date=2023-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530003133/https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/article/hajime-sorayama-machines-with-sex-appeal |url-status=live }}</ref> His pin-up work appeared monthly for years in the pages of [[Penthouse (magazine)|''Penthouse'']] magazine, and [[Playboy TV]] later aired made a [[television special]] on Sorayama's art.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} In an interview, he said pin-up was his "mania", commenting that "I've been drawing them since high school. Back then, there was this thing for the Playboy and Penthouse playmates. Now, it's the girl-next-door, [[Aidoru|idol]] type, but in our day, these pin-ups were like goddesses. I guess I could describe it as my own goddess cult."<ref name="totodigio" />

His style has influenced other works such as the 2015 film [[Ex Machina (film)|''Ex Machina'']].<ref name="Metal" />

In the 2000s, Sorayama's first-generation [[AIBO]] design (the [[robotics]] of which were developed by Sony's [[Toshitada Doi]]) received the Grand Prize of Best Design award, the highest design award conferred by Japan. AIBO has since been included in the permanent collections of the [[Museum of Modern Art]] (MOMA)<ref name="The Museum of Modern Art">{{Cite web |title=Hajime Sorayama, Sony Corporation, Tokyo. Aibo entertainment robot (ERS-110). 1999 {{!}} MoMA |url=https://www.moma.org/collection/works/82163 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=The Museum of Modern Art |language=en |archive-date=2015-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110091536/http://www.moma.org/collection/works/82163 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Smithsonian Institution]]. It was included in the book ''Objects of Design'' by Paola Antonelli and has been the subject of special studies at [[Carnegie Mellon University]]. The [[Nike (company)|Nike]] "White Dunk Project" included Sorayama among the 25 most inspiring Japanese artists.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The artist released another retrospective, ''Master Works'', in early 2010, and a new book, ''Vibrant Vixens'', in May 2013 and updated version "XL Masterworks" in 2014. He worked with filmmakers in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] on fantasy and science fiction projects, including a film about ''Penthouse''.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} During 2012 and 2013, Sorayama collaborated with American fashion designer [[Marc Ecko]]. In 2013 Sorayama  was a contributor to the art book ''Star Wars Art Concept''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=StarWars com |title=Star Wars Art: Concept – Exclusive Preview |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-art-concept-exclusive-preview |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=StarWars.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606134956/https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-art-concept-exclusive-preview |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, South Korean fashion label Juun.J released a series of garments in collaboration with Sorayama.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madsen |first=Susanne |date=2016-01-16 |title=Juun.J presents androgynous offering at Pitti Uomo |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/29218/1/juun-j-presents-androgynous-offering-at-pitti-uomo |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Dazed |language=en |archive-date=2024-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727073719/https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/29218/1/juun-j-presents-androgynous-offering-at-pitti-uomo |url-status=live }}</ref> French fashion brand Dior collaborated with Sorayama for their Pre-Fall 2019 menswear collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alex James |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Dior goes sci-fi with Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama |url=https://hero-magazine.com//article/147884/dior-goes-sci-fi-with-japanese-artist-hajime-sorayama |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Hero |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109193948/https://hero-magazine.com/article/147884/dior-goes-sci-fi-with-japanese-artist-hajime-sorayama |url-status=live }}</ref> The collection was a commercial and critical hit, and Sorayama worked with Dior on a follow-up Summer capsule collection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soormally |first=Sabrina |last2= |first2= |date=2019-08-02 |title=Dior Hits The Beach With Hajime Sorayama |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/fashion/dior-hits-the-beach-with-hajime-sorayama/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB |archive-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109193944/https://www.clashmusic.com/fashion/dior-hits-the-beach-with-hajime-sorayama/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2025, AIBO was included in MoMA's ''[[Pirouette: Turning Points in Design]],'' an exhibition featuring "widely recognized design icons [...] highlighting pivotal moments in design history."<ref name="The Museum of Modern Art" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=NASA Worm as Art, Museum of Modern Art Opens Exhibition Featuring NASA Worm |url=https://www.nasa.gov/get-involved/art-program/museum-of-modern-art-exhibits-nasa-worm/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=NASA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Pirouette Checklist">{{Cite web |date=November 2024 |title=Pirouette: Turning Points in Design 'Final Checklist' |url=https://press.moma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MoMA_Pirouette-Viewing-Checklist_Final.pdf |access-date=18 August 2025 |website=[[The Museum of Modern Art]]}}</ref>

===Bibliography===
* ''Pink Journal'' (1967)
* ''Sexy Robot'' (1983, Genko-sha)
* ''Pin-up'' (1984, Graphic-sha)
* ''Venus Odyssey'' (1985, Ed. Tokuma communications)
* ''Hajime Sorayama'' (1989, Taco, Berlín)
* ''Sorayama Hyper Illustrations'' (1 & 2) (1989, Bijutsu Shuppan-sha)
* ''The Gynoids'' (1993, Edition Treville)
* ''Naga'' (1997, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''Torquere'' (1998, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''Sorayama 1964–99. The Complete Works'' (1999, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''The Gynoids genetically manipulated'' (2000, Edition Treville)
* ''Gynoids reborn'' (2000, Edition Treville)
* ''Sorayamart'' (2000, Ed. Soleil)
* ''Moira'' (2000, Edition Kunst der Comics)
* ''Metallicon'' (2001, Sakuhin-sha)
* ''The Gynoids. The Storage Box'' (2002, Edition Treville)
* ''Venom'' (2002, Graphic-sha)
* ''Latex Galatea'' (2003, Editions Treville)
* ''Relativision'' (2006)
*  "Sorayama's Master Works", (late spring 2010 release) 
*  "Vibrant Vixens", (late spring 2013 release) 
*  "XL Masterworks", (2014 release)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{ISFDB name|30102}}
* {{MoMA artist|22591}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorayama, Hajime}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese illustrators]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese painters]]
[[Category:Artist authors]]
[[Category:Artists from Ehime Prefecture]]
[[Category:Japanese fantasy artists]]
[[Category:Fetish artists]]
[[Category:Japanese contemporary artists]]
[[Category:Japanese erotic artists]]
[[Category:Japanese graphic designers]]
[[Category:Japanese industrial designers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Imabari, Ehime]]
[[Category:Pin-up artists]]
[[Category:Japanese science fiction artists]]
[[Category:Collection of the Museum of Modern Art (New York City)]]