Photographer Kishin Shinoyama was born in Tokyo on December 3, 1940. He enrolled in the Department of Photography at Nihon University College of Art in 1959, aiming to become a photographer. He also enrolled at Tokyo College of Photography, where he distinguished himself as a promising young photographer. While still a student, he joined the advertising production company Light Publicity. He subsequently won the APA Award and the Japan Photo Critics Association Newcomer Award, marking a spectacular debut. Among his early works, the cover of John Lennon's final album, "Double Fantasy," is particularly famous. He began working as a freelance photographer in 1968. He first used the term "gekisha" (a type of photography) in a 1975 feature on Momoe Yamaguchi in the magazine "GORO," which became a catchphrase, and the series gained popularity. His 1978 photobook, "Dai Gekisha: 135 Female Friends," became a bestseller. He shot the cover of Weekly Asahi for around 20 years from 1978, and also worked on covers and gravure for Weekly Gendai and B.L.T. His many nude photos feature women, and his 1991 nude photo book of Rie Miyazawa, Santa Fe, became a huge hit.

In March of this year, he was in charge of shooting the main visual for the newly remodeled Isetan Shinjuku store. Model Mona was the subject, and a team of top creators came together, including contemporary artist Kohei Nawa, Numero TOKYO magazine editor-in-chief Kyoko Tanaka, and hair and makeup artist Katsuya Kamo. During the shoot, he said, "I don't shoot fashion. I just take off my clothes (laughs)."