Tomoya Arai
Shikoku Island, Japan

Born in Osaka in 1983, Tomoya moved to Tokyo at age 19 to pursue fine art.  By age 23 he became interested in Enku-Buddha and began to work alone to practice carving Buddha statues with his ax.  The following year he had his first solo exhibition.  His style is sculptural, he selects planks of wood which he carves with a hatchet and further characterizes by rough engraving with a rattan.  He now resides with his wife and three children in Shimanto, on Shikoku Island, which is known for its beautiful countryside, river, and woods.