A man in a white karate gi with black belt standing on a dojo mat in a martial arts training room.

Two people working in a woodworking shop surrounded by tools and wood shavings, with one person operating a wood lathe.

A man holding a handmade puppet, smiling at the camera, with a workspace in the background.

Stories of commitment to centuries-old tradition.

Smiling elderly man with glasses in an industrial or manufacturing setting.

A smiling man dressed in traditional white Japanese blacksmith attire, sitting in a workshop with blacksmithing tools and equipment, including a forge and tongs, behind him.

A woman with short dark hair smiling in a cluttered kitchen or workshop space, wearing a white shirt and black apron, surrounded by shelves and various kitchen or craft supplies.

Meet the Masters

Discover the artisan behind the art with in-depth interviews exploring each of the narratives of Deeper Japan’s cultural expert partners.

Deeper Japan 7/15/26 Deeper Japan 7/15/26

Meet Chikara, Aji Granite Artisan

“I think my ultimate way of giving back to this region is that in the future when people think of stones, they think of Kagawa Prefecture, and when they think of Takamatsu, they’ll think of stones.”

— Chikara, Aji Granite Artisan