Hiroyuki Sugawara creates wooden tools for daily life, working out of his studio named 'greenlight' in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, located in Japan. Sugawara's background is in product design, later studying woodwork at Takumi Juku, where he learnt to get hands on with wood and manipulate it into simple everyday forms.
In 2005 he opened up his own studio, and started to create modern shapes that have a simple form, being heavily inspired by functionality and works that have a warmth when you pick them up. Alongside using natural woods, such as maple and cherry (sometimes called sakura), he also experiments with urushi lacquer coating that covers both the spoons, plates and vessels. This is highly protective and will make sure the wood stays true for many years to come.
