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He was born in Fukushima Prefecture in 1948, established the designer shop ROCKSTONE in 1981 and the Iwakura Eiri forms development and research institute in 1985. Since then, he has been active as a total creator working on his own ROCKSTONE brand as a furniture designer and getting involved in a series with overseas designers and architects, as well as producing the Exhibition of Chairs Made with Japanese Trees in Hida, Takayama, Nagoya, and Tokyo from 1994 and 1996. Afterwards, he announced the wood craftsmen's association brand, Takayama Wood Works. He was the overall producer of the “Yudonoan” at the Yutagawa Hot Spring in Yamagata Prefecture in 2001, and produced an area focusing on furniture at Myojinkan in the Tobira Hot Spring in Nagano Prefecture in 2003, as well as taking part in the construction of the ultimate Japanese inn. Involved not only in proposing design ideas, he also drafts out new styles depicting culture and new lifestyles while actively administrating the production and sale of his own designs, and he regularly comes up with new developments that exceed the conventional concepts of interior design. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2003 IFFT Gold Prize Award presented for his Rafuan, which is covered with a leather net, and the 2004 Good Design Award. He recently exhibited his Kiri Tansu, based on a theme involving paulownia wood, at Italy's “Milano Salone”. Following this, he became involved in KAMO to nurture “Japan Brand”. He took part in exhibitions in Shanghai, China, and at the Frankfurt Messe, Germany, in an attempt to integrate traditional Japanese crafts and modern design. He opened the ROCKSTONE omotesando brand shop in the Omotesando area of Tokyo in March 2006.

 

ROCKSTONE CO.,LTD., Executive Designer / Iwakura Eiri forms development and research institute, President / KURAHAUS CO.,LTD., Senior Advisor and Designer / Japan Interior Designers' Association, Vice Director General / Member of the Japan Society for Interior Studies / ICS COLLEGE OF ARTS, Director General / Visiting Professor