Masumi Tada, the daughter-in-law of internationally recognized kumihimo artist Makiko Tada, has studied kumihimo braiding techniques for more than 20 years, and has worked as Makiko’s assistant for four years. Masumi received a doctoral degree in the replication of ancient historic Japanese braids, contributing to Japanese national treasure restorations. Her studies have included techniques of marudai, takadai, ayatakadai, disk, plate, and Kute-uchi loop braiding, which she sees as the core technique from which many other Japanese braiding techniques evolved.