Animation director, born 1962 in Tokyo. Director of I.TOON Ltd. Has been widely active in fields including character design and animation, using clay animation and various other techniques. Among numerous others, his most well-known works include Nyacki! (now in its 26th year at NHK Educational TV); The Tale of the Grasshopper (NHK “Minnano-uta”); Harbor Tale, an original short film set in the port of Yokohama (and winner of the Best Animated Film and Audience Award, Zlin Film Festival); and the Garden Bear mascot for the 2017 National Urban Greenery Fair. Chairman of the international examination committee at the International Animation Ferstival Hiroshima 2020. Director of the Japan Animation Association and ASIFA JAPAN. Professor of Animation at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.
