Introduced from the continent some 1,400 years ago, in Japan's Kofun period, the art of inlay (zogan) developed in its own way, giving rise to auspicious and traditional patterns and new techniques. Passing through the eras of nobility, samurai, and modern Japan, the essence of this craft has been handed down to today's inlay artisans. Among them, one name stands out for exceptional skill and original expression: Takayoshi Yamamoto.

Takayoshi Yamamoto creates pure gold inlay, carving designs rooted in Japanese culture with pure gold and pure silver so fine they are almost invisible. His meticulous metalwork, where not a single mistake is allowed, is carried out silently and precisely, with a quiet intensity. The many patterns on his works are imagined designs that artists of the past dreamed of; he unites the aesthetics handed down through time with his own imagination, like a planetarium of patterns.