The exhibition brochure for “Masters of Carpentry: Melding Forest, Skill and Spirit” at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles.
Welcome into the world of the Japanese daiku , or master carpenters – the guardians of the timeless traditions and cultural heritage of Japan’s wood craft.
JAPAN HOUSE is an innovative, worldwide project with three hubs – London, Los Angeles and São Paulo – conceived by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. It seeks to nurture a deeper understanding of Japan in the international community. JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is a place for new discoveries, offering experiences that showcase the best of Japan through its spaces and diverse programs. Occupying two foors at Ovation Hollywood, the second foor features an exhibition gallery and WAZA Shop while the ffth foor offers a variety of programs and events at the multi-purpose hall (Salon) and the library. UKA, a Michelin-starred, multi-course kaiseki restaurant, also offers exclusive dining experiences.
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JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles
Gallery (Level 2)
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028
A collection of Japanese hand planes
Japanese cedar forest
The Art and Tradition of Japanese Carpentry In Japan, a rich tradition of carpentry and wood craftsmanship has flourished over centuries, nurtured by imperial and sacred architecture, and propelled by the nation’s economic and cultural development. Daiku , the revered masters of Japanese carpentry and woodcutting, have long honored nature with the ethos of sourcing wood in harmony with the forest and advocating for the meticulous selection of materials tailored to each application. Renowned for its precision, Japanese woodworking practice is rooted in a profound reverence for nature and environmental balance. The mountainous forest terrain and limited natural metal ore resources of Japan have led to remarkable innovation, pioneering world-class carpentry tools and kigumi , wood joinery techniques characterized by their simplicity and efficiency. This exhibition pays homage to Japanese master carpenters – builders of shrines, temples, and teahouses – showcasing their tools and indispensable joinery inherent in this important cultural architecture. About the Exhibit The exhibition is structured around 5 pillars of daiku culture: a reverence for nature and the Japanese forest, the master carpenters’ refined tools, the practice of dōmiya daiku – the temple and shrine carpenters, kigumi – the strength and
Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, Japan
beauty of Japanese joinery, and the work of the sukiya daiku – the skillful carpenters employing natural materials to detail and finish teahouses. Visitors begin with a display of tools including planes, chisels, and saws—objects that convey the spirit of preparation that leads to excellence in craft and ultimately the beautiful architecture. Next, experience the sounds and subtle aromas of the Japanese forest. Scents of cedar and cypress mingle in an immersive presentation of Japan’s indigenous timber and the ritual garments, tools, and implements of the daiku tree felling ceremonies. The main gallery opens to a display of kigumi , or wood joinery, reflecting the techniques used by temple and shrine builders, the dōmiya daiku . The models reveal structures in ancient buttresses and sweeping rooflines of Japan’s temples and shrines and showcase techniques such as tsugite and shiguchi , which bring strength and structural stability as well as delicate finesse in finishes. The exhibition culminates in a full-size model of the Sa-an style of teahouse. The sukiya architecture highlights the intricate woodwork processes of sashimono and kumiko in furniture and interior architectural fittings that also accentuates the organic shape, texture, and color of timber, bamboo, clay and grass.
Structural model of Sa-an Teahouse (Orig. 1742)
Kumiko woodworking (Detail view)
Presented by: JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles Organized by Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum Exhibition Curation & Design Graphic Design Marcelo Nishiyama Hiroshi Ohmizo Photo Credit Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum
Japanese lumber milling, early Shōwa period (pre-1950)
“When you study someone’s tools, you come to know their skill. By observing how they handle their most important possessions, their tools, you come to understand their attitude toward their work.” Tsunekazu Nishioka, Master Carpenter
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