I was born in 1950 in Niigata, Japan. After graduating from the Kunitachi music college in Tokyo, Japan (where I studied modern oboe), I came to The Netherlands in 1975.
Here I studied baroque oboe at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where I met my teacher, collegue and life-long friend, the late Bruce Haynes. From him I learned the first principles of oboe making. Throughout the years I have played modern oboe and baroque oboe in several orchestra’s, combining my work as a musician and an oboe-maker, but around 1985 I finally decided to concentrate on making oboes full-time.
After decades of working on improving my craft, the making of a historical oboe remains complex, which is why I am able to produce only a few every year.
I used to have a small workshop in Utrecht where I lived for 24 years, but a few years ago I moved to the beautiful town of Deventer, where I can continue my work more peacefully.