Press / Artist Interviews
CANVAS REBEL - November 2024
CONVERSATIONS WITH TAKESHI YONEZAWA
“The catalyst for me to start leathercraft came when, as an aspiring 20-year old musician and part-time swim instructor in Tokyo, I couldn’t find a a carved leather wallet I liked so I decided to make my own.”
CANVAS REBEL - April 2024
STORIES & INSIGHTS: MEET TAKESHI YONEZAWA
“There is a Japanese proverb, “What one loves, one does well.” My passion for leatherwork drives me to continually seek knowledge. One thing people often forget is that knowledge is the accumulation our predecessors’ history; it is impossible for someone to learn completely alone.”
ALL CLASSICAL RADIO ARTIST ANTHOLOGY - January 2024
SPEED, POWER, PLAY: TAKESHI YONEZAWA’S LIFELIKE LEATHER ART
By Jennifer Perinne
“When encountering Takeshi “Yone” Yonezawa’s “Determination”—a life-size sculpture of a red-tailed hawk constructed entirely from leather—you might feel awe at the bird’s broad wingspan dwarfing everything else in the room, or you might be spellbound by the precision of its plumage, from the gradients of brown bars on its back to its coppery tail feathers. You might be struck by Yone’s skillfulness, tenacity, and reverence for this creature—and you’d be right.”
THE SHERIDAN PRESS - May 2023
VENDORS, LEATHERWORKERS SHOW OFF WORK AT TRADE SHOW
By Joseph Beaudet
“The Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show provides vendors and leatherworkers an opportunity to showcase their work and products this weekend. Takeshi Yonezawa makes bags, wallets and artwork out of leather. Yonezawa spent 2,010 hours over the last three years making a hawk, which he entered into this year’s World Leather Debut competition. His hawk won first place in the Stand Alone - Tooled Category.”
CARRYOLOGY - February 2017
MAKER SERIES: YONEZAWA LEATHER
By Carry HQ
“Takeshi ‘Yone’ Yonezawa has spent over a decade perfecting his design and leatherworking skills. His journey into the craft began in Tokyo, and ultimately led to the founding of Yonezawa Leather. Yone crafts each of his creations by hand, resulting in unique pieces that are meticulously constructed, functional in form, and refined in style.”