The guys and I had an amazing private tour of the Japanese Carpentry exhibition at the beautiful JAPAN HOUSE LONDON in Kensington London.
This exhibition of Japanese Carpentry showcases aspects such as the Timber grown and used, the craftspersons tools and techniques and exhibits that showcase the joinery specialisms and interesting facts
This Japanese Carpentry exhibition is called “The Carpenters’ Line” and is at Japan House in London and is running until the end of Jan 2023, it is free to come in and there is a beautiful shop and restaurant to visit too
I feel deeply honoured to have been invited to Japan house for our tour and we are now super motivated to go out to Japan to look at more amazing Japanese Carpentry
Here is a link to JAPAN HOUSE LONDON
https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/
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Music by YouTube
00:00 Introduction
03:40 Raw Material
06:03 Some History
07:11 The Tools
10:37 Tools and the language
11:31 Joints and joinery
14:41 Lattice work
18:20 Cedar wood
19:02 compressing timber
19:45 Laquer work
21:30 Yew Trees
24:42 woven yew hat
26:56 Climbing wall from waste timber
29:04 Lattice work styles
32:00 Japanese wood bending
33:16 Joinery school
36:06 Our gifts!!!!
31 Comments
🎤🎤🎶🎶🎶 The vapours – – turning Japanese 😃😃😃
Hi Robin, I have been watching your videos for years and think you are the man! I have a question to ask you or any carpenters reading this…..
I have bought a timber kit bungalow which was built in the 70’s which has 3×2 external stud walls filled with approx 60mm cotton insulation in brown paper bags. Do I rip off plasterboard and install 70mm PIR or add strapping to studs to add greater depth of 100mm PIR or do I leave the walls as they are and strap over the plasterboard with day 2×2 and install a 50mm PIR. I don’t know what is the better option for the external leaf of the building and to gain a decent U value
Many thanks in advance if anyone responds to this!
Thanks
Great stuff guys, very interesting , thanks for sharing it 👏👍😀
Just love all to do with japanese carpentry especially the tools that are used.
I think I've seen the spear-plane used in traditional English.. or Japanese oak-beams, to 'scallop' the edges… 🤔
Just a quick update you may want to check a Japanese carpenter called shoyan you can find him on YouTube.
A documented YT trip to Japan from Robin and the gang would be epic !
Wow, coincidence. I'm off to Japan for Christmas to see the in-laws and we are visiting Hida for a spa trip.
Wouldn't mind going to see that but a bit of a stretch from Qld. Japanese wood working has always been second to none. The emphasis is on the quality. And the number of the old buildings that still exist despite the earthquakes are testament to that. I have watched some modern Youtube type videos of current carpentry and some of it has gone the way of our slap dash ways. But there is still an element of the craftsmanship in Japan. Look out for videos on just chisels or planes. The variety is endless and the prices are out there. But fascinating. Japan is on my bucket list of places to go. Perhaps one day.
So good!
I had such a good time here with Robin and Ed!
Fascinating
Search youtube for "Ancient Technology of Making Cabinet Furnitures – Impossible Looking Dovetail Joint" amazing video, when was the last time you made a cabinet.. sitting on the floor!
I didn't think you'd manage to get 40 minutes of interesting footage, but fair play, that was very good. Almost better than visiting in person I suspect.
I've done quite a few of those Japanese joints, they're really challenging and a lot of fun. I recently did 6 kanawa tsugi (scarf joint you showed) as part of a clothes drier (one of the ceiling ones) I was making for the house. I was getting quite good by the end! The marking out of many Japanese joints is a skill in itself, there is so much to think about. I mainly work with hand tools (as a hobby), and I'd recommend anyone who's into joinery or carpentry to give some a go. I use "the complete Japanese joinery" book as well as a couple of others to get the information around layout and such like. If you can incorporate into a piece of furniture or box or whatever then brilliant, but otherwise just use a couple of offcuts. Make sure they are 100% square on all sides though!
Thanks for sharing, looks like you guys had an amazing day. I would love to go on a course to learn the techniques of Japanese joinery but not the one in the video bugger that for a laugh, don't think I would last a week. Huge respect for all those that have and are doing the course.
By a country mile this is your best video yet. The level of knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm and sheer accessibility to the history of the craft of carpentry made this something that would not have been out of place on a mainstream or premium channel. Well done to all of you and your guides for an entertaining, informative and aesthetically riveting piece of videography and commentary. To simply go and walk around with a guide would have been one thing, but to want to explain, expand and share expertise in way to keep a viewer rapt is a talent. Well done to Robin, Ed and LLoyd for going a step further and introducing the culture of carpentry. Kudos to all of you. More, please!
Just stunning, thanks
If you don't know it already you may like to dip into this Japanese Furniture maker @ISHITANIFURNITURE
This is a great video of a fascinating exhibition!👏👏👏
Truly excellent video, noticed a behavioural posture issue with the youngen in the videos front page…. Hands in pockets needs nipping in the bud.
The percentage of land over to forest in Japan was interesting you might not know but all the land built upon including business premises and road surface structure in the UK is 12%.
Robin why you only 1ft tall? That little Japanese women made you look like a midget
Fabulous video – thank you
You guys have got to go to Japan and hida takayama. I was lucky enough to go there 12 years ago as part of a tour of Japan. You would be like kids and a sweet shop!
Robin, legend has it that if you go deep into the Japanese forest you will find Grand Master Hattori Hanzo who will teach you the 1 inch scarf joint. This skill is essential if you hope to survive your encounter with Boss Rebecca. A yellow jump suit awaits the victor.
Amazing thanks again. lads
Hi, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Steve
Thanks for this very special video. Each and every vid is a HUGE gift and packed full of info and education. Thank you Robin!
That was an absolutely brilliant video. The Japanese woodworking and metalworking techniques and traditions are so impressive and interesting. Thanks for sharing
planning to go see this in the new year so i'm going to save watching this until after i've been in person i think
Can't see those 2 young female apprentices having to pop down to screwfix any time soon/ever.
What dedication. 👏👏
Great video Robin and insight from the team at Japan House.