Akiyo is a Japanese textile artist and teacher based in Paris, specializing in traditional dyeing and weaving. A graduate of Nihon University in photography and art, she then turned to handmade textiles after apprenticing with renowned masters in Japan. She has mastered techniques such as Ikat and ramie weaving, and has trained in regions such as Okinawa and Showa-mura. Since moving to Paris in 2008, Akiyo has fused Japanese tradition and contemporary creation in her work, collaborating with fashion houses such as Balenciaga and Céline.

In parallel, Akiyo has published several books on sewing inspired by Japanese tradition. She also contributes to cultural projects, such as the rehabilitation of a traditional Japanese house in the Jardin d’acclimatation, where she restored an ancient loom. Since 2012, she has been running creative workshops in France, sharing her know-how around Japanese crafts and raising awareness of environmentally-friendly practices.

In 2014, Akiyo founded a Franco-Japanese Cultural Association to promote cultural exchanges between France and Japan. Recently, she received an award for her civic commitment at the Cérémonie du Bénévolat in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.