Maeda Woodworks
Director & Danjiri Craftsman, Akihiko Maeda

Born in Osaka, Akihiko Maeda was inspired to become a danjiri craftsman by the region’s danjiri festivals which feature these elaborate wooden carvings.

Maeda honed his craft for a decade before becoming an independent craftsman in 2008. While danjiri carvings are his main focus, Maeda also works in a variety of styles to create a diverse offering of wood carvings.

The beauty and charm of these wood carvings are in the intricate detail, but in recent years the work of danjiri carving has sharply decreased. To keep the traditional craft of danjiri woodcarving alive, Maeda Woodworks intends to spread Japanese woodcarving techniques outside of Japan and around the world.

The company motto is that in woodcarving the possibilities are limitless. Maeda Woodworks believes that anything made of wood has the potential to be carved into works of art — it is the job of the sculptor to find the new value inside of the wood.

Maeda creates unique products by appreciating, valuing, maximizing the potential of wood before adding the warmth of hand craftsmanship. He creates products that combine the traditional techniques of each danjiri craftsman who came before with his own unique style and technique.

What is Danjiri ?
For more than 300 years, danjiri festivals have been held each autumn in the Kansai region near Osaka, Japan.
These festivals feature parades of wooden carts in the shape of shrines or temples. The carts are decorated with intricate wood carvings which are the origin of danjiri and inspire the wooden sculptures produced by Akihiko Maeda's Maeda Woodworks.