Born in 1997 in Urakawa Town, Hokkaido. His paternal lineage traces back to the Ainu of Samani Town. From a young age, he enjoyed craftsmanship. As a student, he was drawn to the spiritual culture of the Ainu through the Sapporo University "Urespa Club," where he studied the Ainu language, dance, and also tried woodcarving. After dropping out of university, he aspired to become a woodcarving artist.

From 2020 for three years, he participated as a 5th term trainee in the "Successor Training Program" of the Foundation for the Ainu Culture at the Biratori Ainu Crafts and Heritage Center Urespa. There, he acquired broad knowledge of Ainu culture as well as the basics of techniques and skills necessary for drawing Ainu patterns and woodcarving, along with weaving crafts. During training, when visiting his hometown, he met Kumagai Kane, former chairperson of the Samani Ethnic Culture Preservation Society, who is the sister of his grandfather, the late Okamoto Koshichi. He learned for the first time that his grandfather operated a folk craft shop in Urakawa and carved and sold bear woodcarvings, which strengthened his aspiration to become a woodcarving artist. He inherited the carving tools once used by his grandfather and is diligently honing his skills.

Since April 2023, he has been fully dedicated to woodcarving as an Ainu craft support staff member of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team in Biratori Town, aiming to become independent.

He mainly produces ita (flat wooden trays), makiri (knives), and three-dimensional carvings such as bears. He focuses on the accuracy of ramram-noka (scale carving) and consciously uses uncarved spaces. Nibutani is attractive because it houses the works of masters in museums where techniques can be absorbed and also the workshops of leading senior artists where he can receive direct guidance. He studies many traditional works by observing closely and strives to create his own patterns.

He says that Nibutani is a place where even people uninterested in crafts can experience something extraordinary and hopes many people will visit. He dreams of opening his own craft shop under the same name, "Husko Mingei," as his grandfather, Koshichi. He also participated in the collaborative product development project with "Nibutani Ainu Craft" (2024, 2025). A member of the Nibutani Craft Association.

Contact Information

Ainu Crafts pewre (in Ainu language, “pewre” means “young” or “youth”)
76-6 Nibutani, Biratori-cho, Saru-gun, Hokkaido 055-0101, Japan
E-mail: fluffy.zz2528*gmail.com　※Replace * into @.
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