Isamu Hirabayashi (1972) graduated from Musashino Art University (Tokyo). After working as a graphic designer, he is now active as a TV commercial director. His short films were screened in more than 100 film festivals around the world and received many awards. The recent ones are Shikasha (2010), Aramaki (2009), A Story Constructed of 17 Pieces of Space and One Maggot (2007).