Born in Tokyo in 1949, the artist initially worked as a jewelry designer before beginning netsuke carving in 1992. Coming to netsuke from outside the traditional family-based apprenticeship system of ivory carving, they approached the art form with a free and independent perspective. By incorporating metalworking and lacquer techniques into netsuke sculpture, the artist established a distinctive style. They also experimented with new materials, bringing a rich sense of ornamentation and contemporary expression to the world of netsuke.
