Having lived in nearby Bungo Ono for 13 years, Kai and his family moved to Taketa and founded his studio, Somekahi, in a former sake brewery building from the Meiji Period. He grows indigo plants and extracts their colour for painting; both freehand and using stencils.

His ambition is to develop several standard products that his children and grandchildren will be able to reproduce and sell to make their living in the future.

somekai.com