Born in 1981 in Osachinai, Biratori Town, Hokkaido. He moved to Nibutani after marrying a wife from Nibutani. Since 2008, he has worked as a staff member in the Biratori Regional Iwor Revitalization Project at the Foundation for the Ainu Culture (now Biratori Town Ainu Culture Promotion Public Corporation). Inspired by learning traditional Ainu crafts from senior Nibutani artisans, including the late Kaizawa Fukuji and Kaizawa Koji, he began to create his own works.

His main works include ita (※1) and various ritual implements.
In making ita, he focuses on creating pieces that even those unfamiliar with Nibutani Ainu crafts find beautifully patterned. He pays close attention to the preparatory drawings before carving, striving to faithfully reproduce traditional patterns. When crafting ritual tools, he avoids working when he is in a bad mood to prevent negative energy from entering the work.
In 2024, he designed the wrapping for the "Setapukusa-go" Sapporo sightseeing bus .

Beyond making Ainu crafts, he participates in various activities in Nibutani alongside senior artisans, aiming to become a trusted figure in the local community across generations, and carefully passing on what he has learned to younger artisans.

He participated in the collaborative product development project of "Nibutani Ainu Craft" (2022, 2023).
Vice President, of Biratori Ainu Association. A Member of the Nibutani Craft Association.

※1　Ita Ita are traditional wooden trays carved with Ainu patterns, representing part of the inherited Ainu culture. Nibutani Ita, the style particular to the Saru River basin where Nibutani, Biratori stands, is an officially designated Traditional Craft Product. Nibutani Ita is a special brand that can only be called as such when made by specific craftspeople in Nibutani.

Contact Information

Ainu Crafts pewre (in Ainu language, “pewre” means “young” or “youth”)
76-6 Nibutani, Biratori-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido 055-0101, Japan

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