Kyo-meichiku/Bamboo Crafts: Akihiro Mashimo (Nagaoka Meichiku Co., Ltd.)
Born in Yokohama in 1977, I moved to the city of Nagaoka in Kyoto Prefecture at the age of five. There, I grew up with bamboo always close by. I learned bamboo craft at the Traditional Arts School of Kyoto and joined Nagaoka Meichiku Co., Ltd. after graduating in 1998. Since then, I have studied under the tutelage of certified Kyoto Master Craftsman Ichiro Mishima and worked to produce bamboo fences.
My main work includes fences for culturally important locations like Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Heian Jingu Shrine, and Shokado Garden. In March 2015, I was recognised as a Certified Kyomono Craftsman by the Governor of Kyoto Prefecture. Hoping to spread the art of bamboo craft outside Japan, I continue to hold bamboo fence demonstrations and workshops in countries like the US and Italy.
Profile
1977 Born in Yokohama (moved to Nagaoka City at the age of 5)
1998 Graduated from the Traditional Arts School of Kyoto (bamboo craft major)
Joined Nagaoka Meichiku Co., Ltd. and began to study under then company
president, Ichiro Mishima
2005 Produced bamboo fences for Katsura Imperial Villa
2014 Received the Kyoto City Industry Technique Research Award at the Bamboo Craft
Public Entry Exhibition in Kyoto
2015 Became a Certified Kyoto Traditional Products Craftsman (Kyo-meichiku)
2016 Made bamboo fences in Illinois, USA
2017 Made bamboo fences for Katsura Imperial Villa
Made bamboo fences in Illinois, USA
Held demonstrations, lectures, and workshops in Italy
2018 Made bamboo fences in Missouri, USA
Created bamboo artwork for light displays in Nagaoka (2018 onwards)
2019 Made bamboo fences and held lectures and workshops in Florida, USA
Held demonstrations, lectures, and workshops in Italy
Unveiled bamboo QR code
Made bamboo fences for Katsura Imperial Villa for the third time
2020 Collaborated with high school students to create a bamboo fence with an original
design
Collaborated with Adventure World for their SDGs initiative by using pandas'
uneaten bamboo to create products