A pack of 6 green-tea flavoured ice lollies. I can't get any work done without these in my fridge.

Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

After finishing technical college I worked at a design company in Japan as a design director.

I started up my own business in 2006 and am now involved in the planning and structuring of websites in my role as Interactive Director.

What do you do for inspiration?

I go to Children's bookshops. Children's books are full of wonders.

Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

-Discovery Channel

http://dsc.discovery.com/

-The mysteries of the body-A new door to the future - the Human Genome-

http://jvsc.jst.go.jp/being/genome_e/index.htm

-Gamasutra

http://www.gamasutra.com/

What do you regard as your biggest achievement?

Even if you start as a nobody in the Internet world, you can get recognised by demonstrating your ability AND get interviewed by Rob! My achievement is having proved this!

What software could you not live without?

LightWave3D, Flash

What projects do you have in the pipeline?

I can't tell you about this right now. All I can say is please wait and see!

Who do you rate as being the top 3 design companies?

unit9

http://www.unit9.com/

tha ltd.

http://tha.jp/

Bascule Inc.

http://www.bascule.co.jp/

Who is your target audience?

It depends on the kind of project, but in general I try not to narrow down the target audience too much. This is because I want to make as many people happy as I can, not only certain limited users.

What area of web design lacks the most?

Every experience people can get through the web tends to be seen as tepid and innocuous compared to real life.

As everyone can easily access the web for free, people don't take it too seriously and regard it as trivial. But that's exactly what I dare to challenge.I want to create a world where people totally lose themselves and lose track of time.

What did your very first site look like? Is it still online?

It was a website for a Japanese advertising agency called DENTSU KYUSHU. That was a number of years ago and their website is completely different now.

Have you written any books, if not do you plan to?

I haven't and don't have a plan to either. If I ever did I would prefer creating a children's book to just writing a book.

What was the toughest thing you ever did with Flash? How long did you spend on it? Is it still online?

Pictaps http://www.roxik.com/pictaps/

It didn't take much time. I created this in 2 weeks and a bit as I had to make it in time for an award sponsored by Adobe.

However it was an extreme technical challenge. Development of an original 3D engine and working with an animation system using bone-based modelling...

Even thinking back to it makes my skin crawl.

Do you think Flash is here to stay?

I definitely hope so. But there are more rivals out there now - I hope Adobe will do their best to keep up.

What are your views on design/graphic school. Do you think someone can get into the field without educational experience in a school environment?

Of course you can. I taught myself web design and programming.

Nowadays you can get so much useful information online to help you. If you are motivated enough you will definitely be able to create wonderful work.

When your company was just getting started, what did you find was most effective for getting new clients?

Attaching the working demo of work when replying to enquiry emails.

How have you learned so many Flash/design skills and techniques and can you offer any advice for newbies?

By reinventing the wheel. It's easy to create work by assembling convenient libraries but you will never learn the most crucial things that way.

The most important thing is to explore technologies. The knowledge you gain this way will be helpful not only with Flash but with any platforms.

What is the most expensive thing you have bought in the last week?

A pack of 6 green-tea flavoured ice lollies. I can't get any work done without these in my fridge.

What type of overcoat do you wear when Flashing, basically are you a labels man?

I love sky blue. The bright and clear blue sky! Doesn't it make you feel open and liberated?

Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Rob, you are very popular among Japanese creators. Keep up your good work! Thank you.

ROXIK