There is a Japanese proverb, “What one loves, one does well.” My passion for leatherwork drives me to continually seek knowledge. One thing people often forget is that knowledge is the accumulation our predecessors’ history; it is impossible for someone to learn completely alone. I learned through seminars, books, museum visits, and conversations with industry professionals.

Who you learn from is critical in your journey – whenever I try something new, I try to find those who are experts and learn from them. I have been blessed on this 20+ year journey of leather work to have met many incredible people.

While I was holding a small solo exhibition in my father’s hometown in the coastal city of Tateyama, I met a 69-year-old leather craftsman who happened to stop by. While chatting, he shared that was a bag maker, so I asked if I could visit his shop. When I visited him, I realized how extremely talented he was and asked him if he would teach me. I became his apprentice, where I studied under him for two years. This was a big turning point for me as I improved my skills dramatically, and it helped me become the craftsman I am today.

As I continue my journey, I challenge myself to remain curious and to contribute to progress, just like those who took the time to teach me.

My name is Takeshi Yonezawa, but everyone calls me “Yone.” I have been doing leatherwork for over twenty years and I specialize in bespoke leather goods and lifelike art sculptures. I have learned from master craftsmen from both Japan and the US, and I try to mix those influences and cultures to create my own unique and powerful style.

If I were to describe myself as an artist, I’d say that I have the curiosity of a child, an observational eye, and am meticulous – especially to details or nuances others often overlook or rush past.

I really enjoy solving things by myself – testing and developing my skillset and  knowledge are the most rewarding aspects of being a creative.

Back in 2014 or 2015, during one of my online searches for old Japanese leather goods, I came across a tobacco case and had to buy it. From the moment I saw it, I was intrigued – something told me that it was going to heavily impact me and my journey as an artist.

I was fascinated by the case; its stitching detail was like nothing I had ever seen – in looking closely, the leather parts were connected to each other by seams. It was extremely difficult to find information about the style of construction; I had to invest a lot of time and money into research to learn more about it. I bought several tobacco cases online and read old materials, which were often hard to read or incomplete. I also enlisted the help of a museum curator who helped me piece together historical information.

Over time, I was able to uncover that it was a technique called “Arinui,” which is similar to dovetail woodwork. The originator of Arinui was Kichibei Morikawa and one of the most famous makers of Arinui in/around 1868 was Shikun Murakami. However, it seemed that the art of Arinui was lost because its practice was not passed down to the following generations as there are no artisans who practice it today.

After more than five years of trial and error, I finally managed to succeed in solving the construction detail. I am proud to have brought Arinui stitching to the modern world through my work.

Similar to what I find the most rewarding, I strive to push boundaries of imagination and skill by replicating nature’s phenomenons. When I choose a project like my bonsai tree or red-tailed hawk, I immerse myself in researching the subject’s physiology before crafting a leather replica, considering factors like size, construction, color, texture, and functionality.

My family, especially my seven-year-old son, Hawke, is also a huge motivation for me. They are a part of every project; for my red-tailed hawk project they joined me on walks to collect feathers, visited museums and aviaries to learn about birds, and spent countless hours with me in my workshop. When I won first place in the World Leather Debut competition, it was essential for me to share that moment with my son. I want him to understand the gratification of hard work paying off, taste the sweetness of victory, and embrace his own creativity and passions. I aspire to set a positive example for him.