Presenter Profiles

Yoshihiro Takishita: Architect Yoshihiro Takishita is acclaimed for rescuing and restoring endangered Japanese minka (folk houses). Founder of The Association for the Preservation of Old Japanese Farmhouses, he has raised global awareness of minka through his work and publications, including Japanese Country Style: Putting New Life into Old Houses.

Haruo Nishio: aka Japanese Thatching Guy on Instagram. He is a master thatcher, known throughout Japan both for his dedication to preserving kominka as for his top-notch thatching skills. Trained in Japanese and British thatching techniques, he's worked throughout Japan, revitalizing not only centuries-old roofs but also the buildings they cover. 

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Emily Kaneko Reynolds: Emily currently works in a fourth-generation sakan company in Kyoto. She has published two books, Japan’s Clay Walls: A Glimpse into Their Plaster Craft (2009) and Sakan at Work: Japan’s Natural Plasters (2019, awaiting re-publishing). She recently completed her PhD in earthen architecture at Kyoto Institute of Technology. 

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Jon Stollenmeyer: recently featured in both the New York Times and NHK World, Jon and his partner Kohei Yamamoto run Somakosha, located in Okayama. Using traditonal Japanese carpentry techniques, they create beautiful structures, and are now sharing their collected knowledge through a school, welcoming international students. 

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Felix Conran: Since 2023, Felix and his partner Emily have made their home in Higashiyoshino, Nara, residing in a 140-year-old formerly abandoned house that they've not only renovated, but also turned into a Showhouse to demonstrate what can be done with structures left in ruins. More about Felix in the Financial Times.

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Shinichi Murayama: For more than 30 years, Murayama san has been making beautiful work using a technique called sashimono, the art of combining pieces of wood without using nails. He took one method called kumiko to the next level by discovering a way to bend it, allowing him to create stunning pieces. Check out NHK World for more details. ​

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Nils Wetterlind:  Nils Wetterlind is a Swedish conservationist and environmental consultant with a strong background in green building and sustainable design. His passion for traditional Japanese minka led him to restore and promote their adaptive reuse, collaborating with local craftsmen to blend historic architecture with modern environmental principles.

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Masahide Kobayashi: Masahide Kobayashi is a researcher dedicated to the study and preservation of Japanese chestnuts. Living in a 200-year-old thatched kominka in Miyama, Kyoto, he investigates the ecological, genetic, and cultural value of chestnuts, working to promote sustainable cultivation and protect this traditional crop from decline.