Born 1945 in Fukushima, Japan. 

In 1963, Hanzawa moved to Tokyo, where he worked various jobs before deciding to venture into the world of photography, which was prompted by a conversation with Makoto Kashihara, who was a well-regarded professional photographer. He started in a processing lab, then worked at Art Center Studio. In 1968, he became Kashihara’s assistant. To master the art of photography, he traveled throughout India between 1971 and 1972, taking a vast number of portraits.  

In 1974, Hanzawa became a freelance photographer. New Music Magazine published a 10-page spread of his photos taken in India, which led to commissions to shoot live-stage performances of rock musicians for New Music Magazine, Player, ONGAKU SENKA, among other music magazines. His photos of Tom Waits, featured in New Music Magazine, caught the eye of Kouchi Hara, a renowned Japanese art director, who introduced him to the world of advertising. One of the ads he worked on with Hara won the gold prize from the prestigious Tokyo Art Directors Club.

Hanzawa’s activities continued to expand, branching into fashion photography, commercial film shooting, promotional video shooting, and directing video shoots. His photographs include the Rolling Stones, Yoko Ono, Y.M.O., Southern All Stars, and many other famous musicians and artists. A compendium of his life works contains unique, liberating scenes of nature and travel pictures. He has published numerous photography books, and received many awards.

Awards:

2001     New York Art Directors Club silver award for Cut magazine project

1992　　ACC (All Japan Radio & Television Commercial Confederation) CM

 

            Festival excellence award for KDD ad
 

            Tokyo Copywriters Club award for Iwataya department store ad

1991     New York Art Directors Club silver award for Hiroko Koshino project
 

            Tokyo Copywriters Club award for Toshimaen amusement park ad

1990     Tokyo Copywriters Club award for Toshimaen amusement park ad

1989     Tokyo Copywriters Club award for Tokyo Gas ad
 

            ACC CM Festival grand prize for KDD ad

1988     ACC CM Festival excellence award for Sony ad

1987     New York Art Directors Club silver award for ONWARD KASHIYAMA project
 

            Cannes International Advertising Festival gold awards for Sato Pharmaceutical and NTT ads

1985     ACC CM Festival excellence award for CALPIS ad

1982     Tokyo Art Directors Club award for Japanese National Railways ads
 

            Tokyo Copywriters Club award for Alfa Records Y.M.O. project 
 

            Tokyo Copywriters Club award for Alfa Records Makoto Ayukawa project

1981     Tokyo Art Directors Club award for Alfa Records Y.M.O. project
 

            Tokyo Copywriters Club special award for Alfa Records Y.M.O. project

1980     Tokyo Art Directors Club grand prize for Suntory Spirits ads
 

Photography books:

2011       “Mt. Koya” by Kodansha Ltd.

              “BAZOOKA: the skateboarder spirit” by Kodansha Ltd.

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              “Look” by WANI BOOKS Co.
 

2003       “son of the sun” by rockin’on Inc.
 

2001       “HALF MOON” by rockin’on Inc.
 

2000       “Happy?” by SHINCHOSHA
 

1995       “2094” by SHUEISHA Inc.
 

1994       “PASS AWAY” by Victor Books
 

1991       “INDIA-HANZAWA” by Kodansha Ltd.
 

1990       “HIGASHIYAMA-STYLE” by FUSOSHA Publishing Inc.
 

1989       “HUMAN SPICE” by Kodansha Ltd.
 

1988       “Kohei Otomo, human being” by Shogakukan Inc.
 

Exhibitions:

2016      "Little Window Project" vol.1 at Elephant Studio Gallery in Tokyo

             "Little Window Project" vol.2 at Elephant Studio Gallery in Tokyo
 

2013      “FAMILY PLOTS” at Gallery Cosmos in Tokyo

2013      “IN INDIA 1971 WHERE I BEGAN” at Gallery Cosmos in Tokyo

2012      “infinity” at limArt in Tokyo

2009      “Mt. Koya 583246” at Café Hy’s in Tokyo
 

2009      “Meet the Mt. Koya” at Omotesando Hills in Tokyo
 

2008      “World Heritage Site, Mt. Koya, Kongo Sanmaiin temple” at Sendai Mediatheque in Miyagi                     prefecture

2000      “Happy?” at Daikanyama Hillside Gallery in Tokyo

1991      “INDIA-HANZAWA” at Petit Musée Gallery in Tokyo

 

Commercial film clientele includes:

Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Co., Honda Motor Co., Shiseido Japan Co., Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., POLA, Panasonic Corporation, Sony Corporation, Hitachi, Pioneer Corporation, Coca-Cola (JAPAN) Company, Sapporo Breweries, Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Suntory, NTT, NTT docomo, KDD, East Japan Railway Company, Kyushu Railway Company, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co., Tokio Marine Fire Insurance Co., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Sankyo Pharmaceutical Co., Meiji Co., LOTTE Co., Lawson, TOKYO GAS Co., PARCO CO.