Ecchu Art Festival Exhibition (2024)
”Opening Up – Jewelry Box” was exhibited and received an award during the 2024 Ecchu Art Festival in Toyama, Japan .
Kitanippon Shimbun (Newspaper), 2024
"Chess Pieces Infused with Inami Craftsmanship
In the Inami region of Nanto City, a German sculptor, Asaya (26), who is studying Inami Japanese woodcarving, has completed the original pieces for a board game called Shōjin Chess. It is a labor-intensive work that took about five months to complete, showcasing the refined carving skills he developed in Inami.
Asaya has previously studied sculpting techniques in his home country and Mexico. He has been staying in Inami since January last year as part of his training, learning under local woodcarving masters to hone his craft.
Shōjin Chess is an original game that combines elements of chess and shogi (Japanese chess). Asaya received a commission via social media from an Austrian game producer who requested a design that captures a uniquely Japanese, traditional aesthetic.
Asaya, pictured in the center, presents the completed carved pieces used in Shōjin Chess. The game board itself was crafted by local furniture makers, while the pieces were hand-carved by Asaya. Each piece features kanji characters along with Japanese motifs suited to their roles—such as dragons, ninjas, and samurai—bringing a distinctive Japanese flavor to the game."
Kitanippon Shimbun (Newspaper), 2024
"German Learns the Art of Traditional Inami Carving
25-year-old German artist Asaya has moved to the Inami region of Nanto City to study the traditional craft of Inami Japanese woodcarving. Since the 9th of this month, he has been learning the fundamentals of the art under the guidance of a local master carver. Inami carving has a long history dating back to the Edo period. Asaya hopes that by learning these techniques, he will illuminate his future artistic path.
Originally from Dresden in eastern Germany, Asaya discovered his passion for woodcarving craft when he gave his mother a handmade wooden gift. Since then, he has pursued woodcarving and other techniques in countries like Sweden and Mexico.
Since January, Asaya has been living in a shared house in Inami and learning from various masters of Inami carving. Local master carver Tsuchida Nobuhisa, under whom Asaya trains, stated: “It is the first time a foreigner has come here to learn this art. I hope he will understand not only the technique, but also the spirit of the craft during his time here.
Asaya discovered Inami Japanese woodcarving last autumn when he came across photos of Ranma carvings online. The delicate depictions of landscapes impressed him so deeply that he decided to come to Japan to learn the techniques firsthand. Since then, he has been living in the region and attending a carving school organized by the local artisan community.
He plans to stay in Inami for at least one year and further immerse himself in the art of Inami woodcarving. In addition, he hopes to extend his stay for several more years to learn and absorb as much as possible."
Newsletter by Tokyo Inami Association, 2024
"A New Breeze from Germany: Asaya's Challenge
Asaya (25) is an emerging wood sculptor from Germany. He originally studied physics at the Technical University of Dresden, a prestigious institution comparable to Keio University. However, his true passion lay in woodcarving, and he left his studies behind to fully dedicate himself to the craft. Despite high expectations from his family — made up of doctors and physicists — Asaya chose passion over convention.
His journey began in Germany, where he gained experience in stone carving. He then learned the basics of woodworking in Sweden, followed by an immersion into the vibrant tradition of woodcarving in Mexico. Eventually, he came across the Japanese art of Inami carving online — and was so moved that he traveled to Japan in January of this year without knowing a single person there. In Johana, he was introduced to a master of Inami Japanese style woodcarving, and despite initial worries about cultural barriers and being accepted as an apprentice, he was warmly welcomed by Master Tsuchida Nobuhisa. After four months of training under Tsuchida, Asaya is now continuing his learning with Master Taniguchi Nobuo.
Asaya quickly mastered the fundamentals and is praised for his ability to understand and apply Japanese tools and techniques with speed and precision. Despite language hurdles, he uses translation apps to aid communication. His earnest and kind demeanor is appreciated by everyone around him.
Since he receives no financial support from his family, Asaya earns his living through translation and writing jobs online. In addition to his Japan woodcarving apprenticeship, he also attends the sculpture school organized by the local carving community. Asaya hopes to obtain another visa after his current working holiday visa expires in order to fully master the art of Inami carving — and share its beauty and complexity with the world."
Toyama Shimbun (Newspaper), 2024
"Discovering Mexican Woodcarving
Asaya, a 26-year-old German currently studying Inami, (Japan) woodcarving in the city of Nanto, will host a workshop on Mexican woodcarving on September 15th. Having spent a year in Mexico, he aims to share the traditional carving techniques he learned there. Through his studies across different countries, Asaya discovered the joy of creative work — an experience he now wants to share with others while exploring the beauty of Inami carving.
The workshop will take place at the “Asmo” Community Plaza studio in Inami, where Asaya will teach traditional patterns from Oaxaca. The event is open to children aged four and up as well as adults, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes available.
Since March, Asaya has been living in Japan and studying at the Inami Woodcarving School under master sculptors Tsuchida Nobuhisa and artist Taniguchi Nobuo. Both Taniguchi and Katsuhiko Nakajima, a member of the Tokyo Inami Association, are supporting the workshop and have expressed their admiration for Asaya’s craftsmanship.
Asaya originally studied physics at a German university but left academia to pursue art. He studied sculpture in Germany, wooden construction in Sweden, and figurative woodcarving in Mexico. In 2022 and 2023, he spent twelve months in Oaxaca learning both carving and traditional painting techniques.
He plans to continue serving as a bridge between Mexican and Japanese woodcarving and hopes to one day become a master of the Inami tradition."
Toyama Shimbun (Newspaper), 2024
"Workshop on Mexican Wood Painting
On September 15th, a workshop on traditional Mexican wood painting was held at the "Asmo" Community Plaza in Inami, Nanto City. The course was led by Asaya, originally from Germany, who taught participants how to paint traditional patterns on wood.
Asaya, who spent a year in Oaxaca, Mexico, learning carving and painting techniques from a local wood artist, demonstrated how to paint concentric circles onto animal-shaped wood panels. He also explained traditional color combinations and supported participants with their own creations.
Now living in Japan, Asaya is dedicated to traditional Inami woodcarving. He organized the workshop to share the joy of craftsmanship with others."