Kobayashi’s grandfather established an Edo kiriko workshop during the Taisho period. Following in his father’s footsteps, he took over the family business as the third-generation master. Born in Tokyo in 1950. Kobayashi started training under his father in 1973. He won a prize for the first time at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts New Works Exhibition in 1981. After being awarded his first prize at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1982, Kobayashi received honorable-mention prizes at the exhibitions in 1983 and 1984. In 2005, he was certified as a “Traditional Craftsman of Edo Kiriko” by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. In 2006, Kobayashi won the grand prize of the sixth exhibition by the Kanto Association of Traditional Craftsmen: “Director General Prize of the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.” After that, he was awarded the Governor of Tokyo’s Highly-Skilled Workers Prize, and certified as a Tokyo Meister. In 2009, Kobayashi was recognized as a holder of Intangible Cultural Property by Koto Ward.