Akihiro Mashimo was born in 1977 in Yokohama. He moved to Nagaokakyo City in Kyoto at the age of five, where he grew up around bamboo. He learned bamboo craftwork at the Traditional Arts School of Kyoto and then entered Nagaokameichiku Co., Ltd. in 1998 after his graduation. Afterwards, he studied under his teacher Ichiro Mishima (a recipient of the Kyoto Prefecture Traditional Industry Excellent Craftsman Award) and made bamboo fences. His major works are found at the Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto State Guest House, Kashiharajingu shrine, and Heian Jingu Shrine. He was recognized as a Certified Kyoto Traditional Products Craftsman by the governor of Kyoto Prefecture in March 2015. nagaokameichiku.com