Born in Mizusawa, Ogasawara was the son of a cast iron foundry craftsman and worked alongside his father beginning at the age of 16. While inheriting the techniques of Nambu ironware, he became a pioneer in cast iron crafts when he applied his modern designs to traditional production processes. With a career spanning over 60 years, a wide range of household products showcase the depth and range of his raw iron mastery. Ogasawara passed away at the age of 83 in 2012, yet his legacy lives on at his workshop in Iwate, now at the helm of his wife.