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Who We Are

運営陣

Steven Beimel Heywood

Founding Director
As a long time Japan resident and founder of Esprit Travel & Tours, Steve Beimel has been involved with Japanese culture since the early 1970s. He holds an M.A. in Applied Counseling Psychology and runs A to B Seminars for goal clarification and attainment.
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Michael Sonnenfeldt

Director
American entrepreneur, philanthropist, political activist and passionate student of Japan and her Crafts. He is founder and Chairman of TIGER 21, the Chairman of Earthjustice Action, Chairman of both MUUS & Company and MUUS Climate Partners, an investor in young companies that focus on decarbonizing the atmosphere. The MUUS Collection (www.muuscollection.com) is a growing archive of renown photographers featuring quintessentially American photographers.
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Allison Shapiro

Director
A fresco painter and architectural restorer who divides her time between Paris and Los Angeles. With experience as curator and manager at two art galleries, she originally studied art history at Duke University.
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Kathy Krauth

Director
A long time high school history teacher at the American School in Japan (ASIJ). An active member of the expat community in Tokyo, she is currently working with the International Womens College in Bangladesh. She holds an M.A. in Japanese history.
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Masamitsu Saito

Director
Leading authority and collector of Japanese bamboo art baskets, as well as a forest business owner. Following a career in the music industry, he led PR and branding projects through Saito & Associates, Ltd., and has coordinated major Japanese bamboo art exhibitions in Japan and internationally.
運営陣

Keiko Kamei

Executive Director
Graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a Master’s degree focused on Art Museum Education. With experience in gallery management and museum education, she now works to support and revitalize traditional Japanese crafts through JapanCraft21. She is based between Tokyo and Gunma and is also a licensed English-language guide interpreter.

Our Directors

JapanCraft21 is run by a team of directors, each bringing their own unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.

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Keiko Aono

Owner of Ippodo, Ginza, NY

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Yuji Akimoto

Art Critic, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts

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Sawako Kaijima

Artist, Director of jeneratiff

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Reiko Sudo

Textile designer; Founder, Director and Chief Designer of NUNO Corporation; Honorary Professor at Tokyo Zokei University

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Shihoko Fukumoto

Textile artist specializing in Japanese Indigo “ai”

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Eriko Horiki

Washi Designer; Director of Eriko Horiki and Associates

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Benjamin Boaz

Cool Japan Producer, Cabinet Office of the Japanese Government

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Shinya Maezaki

Professor at Ritsumeikan University

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Catherine Wallace

Associate Professor, Department of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi Business School

Co-chair of the Innovation, Research and Education Committee of the Australia and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Advisory Board

Our purpose is to revitalize traditional Japanese master crafts (dentou kougei) by identifying the issues artisans face and implementing solutions for the 21st Century.

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Building Partnerships

JapanCraft21 collaborates with organizations, companies, and individuals to help preserve and revitalize traditional Japanese crafts for future generations.

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Presentation

JapanCraft21 Founding Director Steve Beimel, speaks at symposia and other events to raise awareness of Japanese crafts and the activities of JapanCraft21.

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International House of Japan

JapanCraft21 holds events such as the Japanese Traditional Crafts Revitalization Contest Awards Ceremony and related programs at the International House of Japan, Tokyo Japan.

Our Partners

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Hitomi Ariga

Visual Communications Coordinator

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Keiko Kamei

Executive Director

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Naho Kikuchi

Membership Coordinator

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Steven Beimel

Founding Director

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Yoko Hioki

Project Manager

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Yuki Hitsuma

Web Designer

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Hijiri Fujishima

Keisho Program and Press Release Writer

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Yuko Horino

Administrative

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Kaori Yamada

Finance & Operations Manager

Our Staff

These are the people that make it happen: our staff and key volunteers.

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Taishi Yokotsuka

Most of the event photos on the JapanCraft21 website were taken by Yokotsuka.

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Kan Yasuda

World-renowned sculptor Kan Yasuda generously donates the Ronnie Prize trophy for each Japanese Traditional Crafts Revitalization Contest.

Our Talented Support

These individuals dedicate their time and professional talents to assisting the efforts of JapanCraft 21. 

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