One of Japan’s three great Shinto shrines, built 2,700 years ago, stands near the rural area where I was born and raised. Each day began with me gazing up at the shrine’s sacred trees, offering my prayers to the sun, and ended with the sight of the moon quietly illuminating the sea. Like the Japanese of old, I learned everything important in life from nature.
Through the traditional craftsmanship and spirit of harmony that define Japan, I find happiness in our daily work—protecting Japan’s precious artisans and culture, while creating new works that have yet to exist in this world, guided purely by the heart. By carrying forward the invaluable baton passed down by our ancestors, I hope to connect people across the globe and leave behind a culture of beautiful hearts, where everyone can live richly and authentically.