Nao is a passionate advocate for the use of traditional crafts and how these practices can be used in contemporary society to cross pollinate cultures and ideas. Over the last 15 years, she has run Japanese crafts workshops in both the UK and Japan, and is a fully qualified art teacher in Japan.

Nao started Japanese calligraphy at the age of 6 and progressed to master level. She has a BA in traditional woven textiles design and weave as well as an MA from Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, achieved researching the inheritance and development of traditional culture from a global perspective. Nao was awarded a scholarship to study for a year at UCA Farnham (formally SIAD) and has received numerous prizes all over the world for her work during this period.

Since moving to the UK, Nao has enjoyed sharing her knowledge, through exhibitions and workshops, with anyone interested in Japanese crafts and arts.