Photo credit: MHee Panda/Shutterstock

By Kaitlyn Schwanemann

Multiple communities are feeling a cultural loss after the death of photographer Yasuomi Hashimura, remembered for being a resource for immigrants to New York City and for his lasting impacts on the art world, the Japanese diaspora and more.

Hashimura, also known as Hashi, died last month after being attacked and pushed to the ground in Midtown Manhattan weeks before. He was 79.

Hashimura was walking on Third Avenue on Oct. 22 when a stranger pushed him and he fell backward in the street and hit his head, an NYPD spokesperson said. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he died on Nov. 12.

The day after the attack, the NYPD arrested a suspect, Corey Smith, 32, and charged him with assault. Smith, who is homeless, was re-arrested and charged with manslaughter after Hashimura died. Smith’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

Hashimura’s funeral was held on Nov. 24 in Greenwich Village. He was born in Osaka, Japan, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1968, according to his website. He used his savings and a $5,000 loan to open his studio in Manhattan in 1974, and over the years became prominent in the advertising industry. He shot ad campaigns for Coca-Cola, Stuart Weitzman, Panasonic and more.

“Pouring his soul into his craft, Hashi elevated commercial photography into an art form, setting new standards with his groundbreaking fast-action liquid photography,” Hashimura’s daughter, Ann Akari, told NBC News.

“Whether creating fine art, commercial still lifes, or advertising campaigns, he remained steadfast in his originality and relentless work ethic,” she added.

To read the entire article: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/photographer-yasuomi-hashimura-fatal-attack-rcna183683