Yuta

Yuta

Founder of Poi Lab

Yuta is a pioneering poi artist dedicated to expanding the possibilities of poi and exploring new forms of expression. Widely recognized as one of the leading figures in contemporary poi, he has performed and taught in countries around the world.

Born in Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Yuta graduated from Kobayashi High School and later enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. In 2003, he took a leave of absence and traveled to Australia on a working holiday visa, where he encountered poi for the first time. After returning to Japan and completing his studies, he began his journey as a poi performer.

In 2005, Yuta released his iconic performance Endangered Species, which is considered a milestone in modern poi history. The piece has inspired countless poi artists globally and is regarded as a turning point in the art form.
Known for his exceptional technical skills and unique, music-driven style, Yuta captivates audiences through performances that seamlessly blend movement and emotion.

Beyond performing, Yuta is deeply committed to the development and promotion of poi culture. In 2013, he founded PoiCamera, Japan’s only specialized team for photographing poi. The team is renowned for capturing the beauty of LED and fire performances with top-tier media techniques.

Yuta is also Japan’s first artist to introduce and collaborate on the development of Visual Poi (Graphic Poi). As an official technical partner of Lighttoys—the original manufacturer—he remains the only authorized distributor in Japan. His performances, in collaboration with Poi Lab, are celebrated as groundbreaking LED shows that merge poi with cutting-edge technology.

Yuta actively shares his knowledge through technical instruction and artistic direction for other performers, expanding the use of poi in diverse creative settings.

His mastery of both performance and LED programming has earned him recognition from Lighttoys as the world’s top Visual Poi artist. His innovative feedback has repeatedly surprised the company, leading to the implementation of several features now standard in their products.

As of 2021, many of Lighttoys' advanced features—including effect scaling, laser tools, filter tools, scale shortcuts, and content replacement functions—have been developed based on Yuta’s ideas and field testing.