Mr. Katsuji Kamata was born in 1977 in Mitaka City, Tokyo. He first encountered lacquer art at Tohoku University of Technology, Department of Arts. After graduation, he received lacquerware training at Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Lacquer Technology Training Institute, under lacquerware painter Mr. Akito Akagi. In 2006, he became an independent lacquerware artist. Mr. Kamata specializes in using the kanshitsu technique, which allows him to create unique light-weight and composed lacquerware.