Takashi Tomii

Takashi Tomii's interest in woodworking was invoked during his one year stay in Vernonia, Oregon where forestry was the key industry. After coming back to Japan in 1995, he started to carve kitchen tools such as butter knives, spatulas, and spoons out of twigs he gathered at nearby hills. Although he dedicated himself to surface science experiments throughout his student years, he was inclined to cook and collect kitchenware, ceramics, and wooden tools and furniture. Gradually he started to dream of living by making wooden tableware, and finally in 2002 when he was 25, left the graduate school and entered the "Shinrin Takumi Juku" where he learned solid wood furniture making for 2 years. He then worked for Oak Village in Gifu, which was incorporated in 1974 and has devoted themselves in creating wooden interior products, furniture, buildings, and planting trees through their affiliated NPO, for nearly 4 years.

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In 2008, Tomii moved to Shigaraki, Shiga and started creating wooden tableware for daily use in his workshop in Minamiyamashiro, Kyoto. After 7 years, He and his family moved to Nagaoka, Niigata in 2015. All of his pieces are hand tooled or turned on a lathe into very simple and beautiful shape.

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Tomii lives with his wife, Miyuki who helps his work,  two daughters and a son. They are enjoying their everyday lives surrounded by rich nature.

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