Born in Miyazaki in 1979, Yoichiro Kai was an elementary school teacher for 10 years, before becoming charmed by his family straw craft business, and he became the third generation of his family to take over the studio.
He inherited traditional straw working styles which he has evolved to create indigenous ornaments which fuse Japanese spirit and culture.
His creations are made by straw grown by himself in a very harsh natural environment in a mountainous region of southern Japan.