Lives and works in Kyoto.

1974 Born in Kyoto, Japan
2001 Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology (JP)

Higashibata has raised in a family of urushi – Japanese lacquer -, artisans. After graduating from high school, he trained under Masaya Suzuki, learning the fundamentals of the urushi craft. He subsequently studied design at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, and is currently exploring new possibilities for urushi lacquer in construction and interior design based on his esthetic sensibilities.