(Representative of Watanabe’s)

Born in 1986 in Yamagata Prefecture. Now based in Kamiita Town, Tokushima Prefecture—renowned as a production region of Awa indigo—he is engaged in the full cycle of indigo work, from cultivation and sukumo (composted indigo leaves) production to dyeing and creating finished works.

The indigo color produced through Japan’s traditional “Tennen Aku-Hakkōdate” (Natural Lye Fermentation Dyeing) method is known for its vivid depth and resistance to fading or rubbing off.

He approaches indigo as a “color that lives alongside daily life,” and his work is rooted in crafting pieces that naturally integrate with people’s everyday lives. He is active both in Japan and internationally.

In 2021, he served as an advisor on indigo dyeing and sukumo-making for the NHK historical drama “Seiten wo Tsuke” (Reach Beyond the Blue Sky).