is a Japanese photographer.

Kobayashi was born in Ōdate, Akita

Odate, Akita

is a city located in Akita in Tōhoku region of Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1951.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 65,090 and the density of 162.10 persons per km²...

 in 1952. He left Nippon Dental College in 1980, before graduation. He graduated from Tokyo College of Photography

Tokyo College of Photography

The was set up in Nakano, Tokyo in 1958, as Tokyo Photo School ; its current name dates from 1960. During the 1960s, it moved to Hiyoshi , where it has remained....

 (postgraduate course) in 1983.

Kobayashi had a solo exhibition "Landscapes" at Gallery Eye-Heart, Tokyo in 1982, showing a series of landscapes taken in the urban marginal area, often developed for housing or a new city development. In 1986 he published Landscape, was awarded the award for new photographers by the Photographic Society of Japan

Photographic Society of Japan

Since its inception, the Photographic Society of Japan has annually presented a large number of awards.-1952–1956:-1957–1984:-1985–1993:-1994–2003:-2004–2008:-2009–2010:...

 in 1987. First Light won the Kimura Ihei Award

Kimura Ihei Award

The is a Japanese photographic award that attracts the attention of the mass media and book-buyers.The award has been given every year since 1975 by the Asahi Shimbun Company, publisher of Asahi Shimbun and the magazine Asahi Camera, in honor of the photographer Ihei Kimura...

 for photography in 1993.

Kobayashi's photographs were exhibited with those by Yūji Saiga

Yuji Saiga

is a renowned Japanese photographer.-References:...

, Naoya Hatakeyama

Naoya Hatakeyama

is a renowned Japanese photographer.Hatakeyama was born in Iwate, Japan in 1958. He graduated from the University of Tsukuba, School of Art and Design in 1981 and completed postgraduate studies at the University of Tsukuba in 1984.-Books:...

 and Toshio Yamane

Toshio Yamane

Yamane was born on 29 June 1953 in what is now Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. He studied German literature at Sophia University, graduating in 1977 and thereafter working at Asahi Shinbunsha until 1988, when he went freelance.Yamane's color photographs of the waterfront of Tokyo Bay, taken...

in an exhibition, Land of Paradox, that travelled around the US in 1996–97.

Publications

• Ashiya City Museum of Art and History . Rando obu paradokkusu ) / Land of Paradox. Kyoto: Tankōsha, 1997. ISBN 4-473-01549-1.
• Fuku, Noriko, ed. Land of paradox: Yuji Saiga, Naoya Hatakeyama, Norio Kobayashi, Toshio Yamane. Daytona Beach, Fla: Daytona Beach Community College, 1996. ISBN 1887040161. Catalogue of the exhibition as held in the US.
• Last Home, Camera Works Tokyo No.10. 1983.
• Randosukēpu / Japanese Landscapes. Tokyo: Ark One, 1986.
• Saishū . Tama, Tokyo: Tama City, 1991. The photographs are by Kobayashi.
• Fāsuto raito / First Light: Japanese Landscape. Tokyo: Atelier Peyotl, 1992. ISBN 4-89342-181-6.
• Surface, Booth-Clibborn Editions, England. 1996. (collaboration)

External links

• Kobayashi's site (unusable without Flash)