Artist Profile

Born in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. After graduating from Tama Art University in 2010, he apprenticed under Ise wood carving master Yukiteru Kishikawa. Since then, he has primarily created carved wooden works such as zodiac talismans and pieces for shrines across Japan.

With the concept of “Ittobori” (single-knife carving) works that bring a sense of warmth and comfort simply by being present, he also established his original brand Ittobori Yui. In 2025, the brand was officially registered as a certified traditional craft business in Mie Prefecture.

Hello, I am Yui Ota, an Ise Ittobori (traditional Japanese single-knife wood carving) artisan. Since childhood, I have grown up in a culture where it was natural to be surrounded by nature and living creatures, and to offer prayers to roadside Jizō statues and shrines, or to join hands and say “Itadakimasu” before meals.

During my university years, I experienced wood carving for the first time and was drawn to the beauty and richness of wood grain created by nature, which eventually led me to pursue the path of a craftsperson.

Ise Ittobori is an art form in which the expression and impression of a piece can change dramatically with a single cut. It embodies a uniquely Japanese sense of spirituality and intention, as if one’s thoughts are imbued into a single block of wood. While preserving its clarity and strength, I incorporate a feminine sensibility to create auspicious objects that are close to people’s lives and daily environments.

With the wish that my works naturally bring smiles and enrich the hearts of those who encounter them in everyday life, I carve each piece with a single decisive stroke.