YONEZAWA JIRO (b. 1956) has been creating fantastically bold bamboo works for over three decades. After completing his training at the Beppu Vocational Arts Training Center and Ōita Prefectural Industrial Art Research Institute, Yonezawa moved to the United States, where inspiration from the American fiber art movement (upon which he also left his own influential mark) catalyzed his work into an even more striking, sculptural practice. Yonewaza moved back to his home village in 2008 and has exhibited his fantastic work all around the world.