2026 Stohlman Award Presentations: Al Stohlman Award
I would like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for receiving this prestigious award. To everyone involved in this organization, to all who have supported me as part of this community, and to my dear friends who could not be here (tonight), I am deeply thankful.
I would also like to express my appreciation to my family, whose constant support has made it possible for me to stand here today.
When I first started leathercraft in 2001, I attended a local class near where I was living (at the time) in Tokyo. I had the opportunity to try a small carving project, and that experience led me to join. The teacher lent me several issues of the Leather Crafter & Saddlers Journal, and the world I saw in those pages felt completely beyond my imagination—like another universe. And, if I remember correctly, there were articles about the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show. I remember turning each page with excitement and wonder.
However, I only attended the class a few times before I stopped. At the time, I believed I had already understood what leather carving was—the act of cutting a design with a swivel knife and stamping it with tools. That understanding, whether right or wrong, led me to step away.
Later, I moved to the United States in 2014, and began participating in leather shows. At first, I was simply seen as “the tall, Asian man with a colored mohawk.” But over time, that perception changed. People began to call me by my name, and eventually, I had the opportunity to teach workshops. And now, I stand here receiving the Al Stohlman Award.
These past 25 years have been filled with constant inspiration, learning, and joy. What continues to fascinate me about leather is that it was once alive. Leather is not simply an industrial material. It carries the traces of a living being that once existed in this world. Because of that, leather is both durable and fragile, functional and artistic. It is also a traditional material that has existed alongside human history for thousands of years, while at the same time, deeply absorbing the marks of the people who touch it and the time it passes through.
Leather holds the memory of life and time. It absorbs light, moisture, touch, and use, and continues to change long after a piece is completed. Sometimes, it feels as though the material itself continues to live a new life through that transformation. Because of this, working with leather has never felt to me like simply using a material. It feels closer to collaborating with time itself, and with the traces of life that remain within the material. I believe this unique quality gives leather the potential to move beyond craft alone and enter broader artistic disciplines. That possibility is what continues to drive my work today.
Whenever I learn something new, I always begin with the fundamentals. I believe they are the accumulated knowledge refined over time—tested, corrected, and strengthened throughout history. No single lifetime is enough to surpass that accumulation. But, by studying it deeply, we begin to see what is truly new, and what still holds potential.
I never had the chance to meet Mr. Al Stohlman himself, but it is impossible to speak about leathercraft today without acknowledging his contribution. Even now, I still return to his instructional books. That alone speaks to the lasting impact of his work.
Finally, I would like to share my vision for the future. I am currently expanding my work beyond this industry, exploring new fields and contexts. My goal is to further explore the possibilities of leather as a material, and to bring it into broader artistic disciplines. I hope that one day, leather will be recognized alongside painting and other major art forms within university-level study.
If that becomes a reality, it will not only advance technique and innovation, but also help preserve tradition, while fostering new talent. I also hope this field will produce educators and researchers, and become a stable and sustainable profession—one that younger generations can confidently pursue. Until that day comes, I will continue forward without letting go of this passion.
And finally, I would like to thank my family once again. Their steady support while I pour myself into my work is the greatest reason I am able to stand here today.
Thank you very much.
Excerpted from the Leather Crafters Journal.
The Leather Crafters Journal. Jul/Aug 2026: p 31-32. Print.