Sakaguchi’s understanding of wood comes not just from forty years of experience, but from a family inheritance of woodworking that goes back generations. From an early age he was trained in the ancient and very complex art of Japanese joinery, a carpentry system that connects wood by intricate joints rather than screws or nails. Experienced in the construction of traditional houses and tea houses in Japan, Sakaguchi-san has brought his skills to the United States.

In 1985, he established a woodworking business, Ki Arts, in Northern California. Over the years, he has diversified to make Japanese-style furniture using the same joinery techniques. Sakaguchi’s artistry can be found in private homes and gardens as well as in public parks, restaurants, and Buddhist temples in Japan, the United States, Europe, and Canada.