太田 憲

Yosegi-zaiku craftsman. (Yosegi-zaiku: A traditional Japanese marquetry technique & craft developed in the town of Hakone during the Edo period [1603–1867] that takes advantage of different colors and grains of wood and that combines them to create elaborate geometric patterns, commonly used for traditional decorative items.) Born in 1979 in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. With an interest in handicrafts and a dream of "making things" for a living, he studied the basics of craftsmanship at a vocational school. OTA also developed a deep interest in traditional Japanese crafts and encountered Odawara Hakone yosegi-zaiku. Due to its status as the only Japanese production area in Japan with a history dating back to the Edo period, OTA wanted to learn the unique techniques born from the Odawara Hakone region of Kanagawa Prefecture. In 2003, he joined Kiro Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of Hakone yosegi-zaiku. He then started a life in Odawara City with his wife and daughter and became independent after eight years of training. In 2012, he established OTA MOKKO, where he started production in a small studio in Hayakawa, Odawara City, and opened a shop adjacent to the studio. In the fall of 2015, OTA relocated his studio and shop to Itabashi, Odawara City. In the fall of 2022, he moved the studio and shop to the former village office building of Okubo Village (which merged with surrounding towns in 1940 to become part of Odawara City), located within Itabashi.

Since becoming independent, OTA has been creating a wide range of works while incorporating traditional techniques. Particularly, by using over 30 types of wood, he explores the vivid color combinations characteristic of yosegi-zaiku, practicing craftsmanship that embraces both tradition and individuality.