Traditional Japanese Carpentry School - Pagoda Build
Exclusive: Traditional Japanese Carpentry - July 2020 Pagoda Build in Kannamachi, Gunma, Japan.
In this video, we get a chance to take a behind the scenes look at how a pagoda is built in Japan. In July 2020, we visited a Traditional Japanese Carpentry School based in Japan where as a project the students, along with the guidance of master carpenters, built a 5-tier pagoda in Kannamachi, Gunma, Japan. This rare video was shot on location on a rural hillside in Kannamachi. The wood used for this pagoda was locally sourced in Kannamachi with the center pillar coming from Wakayama Prefecture.
Some of the wood structure was processed in Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan by carpenters from Fujimoto Traditional Carpentry. Some of the carpenters at this company are also part of the school. The remaining wood structure was finished in Kannamachi by students from the school. The processing took several weeks, but the build took two days. In this video, we show some of the processing techniques and footage of the build.
The pagoda will eventually become the focal point of a future park that is planned to built in the coming year.
Special Thanks To:
Ryo Fujimoto @ Fujimoto Traditional Carpentry: ryofujimoto.com/
DAIKUSHIJUKU www.jaho.or.jp/project
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#woodworking #japanesewoodworking #carpentrylife
Cameras Used:
GoPro Hero 8 - HD (4k Video)
Olympus OMD EM-5 Mark II - HD (1080p Video)
Canon iVS HF G20 (1080p Video)
DJI Drone - Mavic Pro 2 - HD (2.7k Video)
I remember my first carpentry master making fun of my work-boots, saying "Japanese carpenters wear ninja-slippers..." -"Don't they step on nails?' i asked "Never" he said "They don't drop them." I was amazed, only to realize the depth of his cut later, upon learning how easy it is to never drop a single nail if you don't use them! -not to mention how exacting it is. Copesthetic! ;)
Haha. Very True.
You should still wear safety boots, though. It'll protect you from when you drop a piece of wood, a chisel, a hammer, or a saw on your feet.
a boot sole doesnt stop a nail its just rubber
you can still get massive splinters through those shoes.
They do use nails for the rafters....
After watching at least 15-20 of your videos I've decided that I should not only subscribe; but watch from the start. I'm 58 years old and have been a professional woodworker for over 40 years. Still making things, teaching, making videos and most importantly, still learning. Thank you for making these videos 🙏 and I hope you continue for many years to come. Maybe one day I will fly to Japan and meet with you. Domo arigato
I wish I was wealthy enough to afford to build a Japanese style home using Japanese materials, lumber, architecture -- and Japanese carpenter here in the USA. Extremely impressive.
I just cannot get over how accurate the cuts and joints are. The pieces all fit perfectly like a giant Lego set! This is just Master Class Carpentry at it's finest!
❤ I really like carpentry in Japan, I went to Nara, Kagoshima to visit carpentry and Japan, it's great. I also do construction work, crafting and building traditional wooden structures in Vietnam. I hope the traditional carpentry techniques have the opportunity to preserve and spread. Greetings from a Vietnamese carpenter.
Why is Japan aesthetically beautiful no matter where you go.
The culture is really cool, right? But it can be weirder when you go into the cities.
High Skill + Honesty = Masterpiece.
I built a walnut chest of drawers without any metal and thought I was badass. You guys win! Thank you for sharing
I did the same with a rocking chair, love these Japanese techniques!
It's amazing that the guy making the wood planes is able to work so precisely with so few fingers, especially as I assume he's right handed.
We asked the same question. Surprisingly he said he lost his fingers from using an electrical saw. Most carpenters have nicks and scratches all over their hands from their tools.
In America that would take 35 engineers, 40 project managers , 10 safety directors , 30 labors , 6 doctors , 4 excavators ,3 technicianions , and 2 pastors . And 12 years
Very true.
@@thecarpentrylife But doesn't the Land of Strict Garbage Sortation have bureaucratic restrictions of its own?
Such a beautiful site, and magnificent work. It makes me want to hire a crew of temple carpenters to build one in the Rockies.
Japanese Wood Working is STUNNING !!!!
Would love to go to this school
The Japanese are hands down the greatest craftsmen in the world as a nation. While any individual anywhere could become a vreat craftsman, as a culture, Japan has developed the deepest tradition of craftsmamship.
This is amazing, really touching that you learn how to do carpentry while together building something purposeful for the city!
Amazing and not a nail in sight. Truely master craftsmen.
釘を全く使わない匠の技に感激です！大工塾凄すぎる！
Very nice job Japanese people always working hard I have some Japanese friends in Tokyo I'm from kurdistan we love Japanese people and japan 🇯🇵🙏👍💐
If I ever make it to Japan I’d love to see a sight like this in progress
Love the Japanese aesthetic, and as a carpenter by trade, I own many Western and Eastern hand tools. I was taken by the fact that our Master here was wielding a chisel that had half of it's life left.
さすが、日本の技術 画像が綺麗です 良いです
japanese carpentry is just beautiful,
Not a carpenter, but love the building techniques they use. I was really impressed by Himeji castle.
Himeji Castle is an incredible example of Japanese carpentry. Interesting thing about the Himeji Castle is that the lead carpenter took his own life due to an unrelenting need for complete perfection. Some of the floors (upper or lower, I can't remember) in Himeji Castle are slightly out of square which can be noticed by the floor boards. In some areas the carpenters changed the direction of the boards to create the illusion that the castle was square, but I think that the failure of the squareness is most likely due to the settling of the masonry and stone walling at the base. The Castle was passed from family to family resulting in a progressive increase in the castle's size. The most amazing thing about Himeji castle is the two main pillars that run through the center of it. Its amazing how the Japanese were able to position these 1 meter wide pillars into place without modern technology.
Gorgeous video! Since meeting you at the castle the other day, my kids have continued to remind me to subscribe to your channel! They’ve recently joined Scouts, so looking forward to seeing many more of your traditional carpentry and local farming adventures in our feed! Safe travels!
Thank you for your kind words. It was great meeting you guys at the castle also and thank you for subscribing. I am excited to release some of these new videos that we are working on. Stay safe and enjoy Japan. Take care.
Talk about hands on work these guys are artists
Yeah I am amazed how quickly construction happens here. In two days the structure is complete.
It would be nice to see the next part of the building work.
There’s too much technology in this world, but without it we couldn’t watch this video of traditional Japanese carpentry. The world has become overly obsessed with technology, so seeing these new apprentices is a good thing... but they’re all in Japan.
Well to be honest and I lived in Japan for nearly 10 years, you need both. Traditional Japanese carpentry for all its beauty and precision cannot design and build the Hoover Dam. If this was the only method today, we'd be living in the Meiji period in Japan and samurai would be the law!
@@victorglavianodoesn't sound half bad.
I like your videos on Japanese wood skills
Such precision and beauty...what more can I say? Darlington, South Carolina USA
I casually called myself a finish carpenter until I began watching Japanese carptentry videos.
Oh, it's tiny! It didn't look tiny for the longest time, so I was confused. The joinery is marvellous as expected.
So cool that Japanese carpentry...
Being someone fascinated by Japanese architecture i love this!!!! Great job!!!🔥🔥✌✌
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic... What a experience thank you for sharing it
This was great!
Absolutely a super duper awesomeness video 😁. That would be the coolest carpentry school ever!
Hola. Saludos cordiales a todo su equipo, de mi parte es una de las culturas que más admiración tengo. Pues todo hacen bien y la carpintería es imprecionante su trabajo.
love ur work mate
Wow, amazing stuff!
Just beautiful! Thank you
Many thanks!
Spectacular.
Traditional scaffolding would of complimented this Pogodas evolution.
Very cool this school in this beautiful place, top!
Japanese woodworking is a masterpiece to be seen. I’ve seen woodworking details, but nothing like this.
Well put together video!
Humans are amazing ❤🏯
Thanks for sharing.. one day i want to learn from Japanese carpenter.. 🙏
Thank you for your comment. I am excited to join this company doing carpentry. I will be documenting my journey through this Japanese carpentry company on a separate channel. Stay tuned for more in 2021.
@@thecarpentrylife okey i'll be wait for next video about the journey, i'am so exciting for that and good luck for your learning..👍🙏
I like how sensei uses his foot to hold the block to chisel.
No fear.
Luv the mtn scenery beautiful exc work !!
Glad you enjoyed it. It is a beautiful town hidden away in the mountains.
Really cool! Would've loved to see more of everything, especially the people there! Cheers.
That was my theory, thanks for the confirmation!
Yeah we have a lot of footage of the student carpenters, but for privacy reasons we were asked to not use their faces in the video too much.
Simply amazing and informative. Beautiful. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Nice cool music and great skills ..
Very impressive. Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you could learn the skill and knowledge of Daiku in Japan soon. Arigatou gozaimasu.
I hope so! I am looking forward to learning more.
Next week, applying the sliding glass doors, vinyl siding and asphalt shingles. Lol
I totally appreciate your passion. Good luck on your journey and thanks for sharing it with us. Ganbantte Kudasai!
Thank you for watching. I am excited to keep sharing as I learn.
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I believe one day,this chanel will be a big , pray believe & make it happent
Thank you for the vote of confidence.
Trabajo perfecto.
Wonderful video
Many thanks
They build to last several life times!
Yeah, they do incredible work. Extremely sustainable. Some temples here are over 700 years old.
@@thecarpentrylife Okay but that's kind of misleading lol, they rebuild the temples every few decades, like from top to bottom full rebuilds.
No they don’t ironically they build them to be torn down
Holy crap. Timber frame on steroids.
Hola. hay una segunda parte? lastima no ver el proceso terminado.
best pleace ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
incedible, thank you for sharing this!
imagine how they did it without modern cranes and scaffolding.. or concrete
Great video - What a pity I do not know you as I am British Architect with considerable experience in traditional and conservation timber frame construction. Currently, I live in Japan and I could have helped you with the strategic instances of constructing Pagodas to include in the video, also with the language. This is a very basic style of Pagoda and really could be constructed by you and a couple of mates. The joints are basic out-of-the-book, although complex. What makes Japanese joinery work, is the quality of timber which is a horticultural art in itself and deeply profound in wood selection. What I would have liked to have seen was the structural resolution of timber superstructure. The base is mass concrete with reinforcement - re-bar. Having seen your follow-up video, I noticed that they used copper to clad the roof - such a shame, as that is where Pagodas get really interesting with respect to the timber construction immediately under the boarding supporting the tiles. Nonetheless, a really excellent video and I am very impressed by your personal courage to work with the guys. Hats off to you. Superb drone footage. Knowing Japan and how difficult it is to film from drone with constant messages of ‘Strong Winds’ changing winds; where come from suddenly, thus, limiting positioning, height, etc, your drone footage is first class. Thank you - an excellent and enjoyable video. PS: I am in process of completing a Survey of one of Nara’s Principal Pagodas. It has been a ‘Tour de Force’ to maintain constancy in trying to come to terms with the resolution of forces and thus ‘joint compensation’. I am amazed every day I work on the project as the Pagoda was designed and constructed over a millennium ago. When the drawings are complete, I will attempt to get you a copy.
Thank you for watching. It would be great to hear more about your experience particularly with pagodas. This project was done by the students at a carpentry school so the complexity of the structure may be adjusted to the level of the students. It would be great to see the completed drawings of the Nara's Principle Pagodas. I have a great interest in the joinery associated with these ancient structures. Again thank you for watching. I hope to continue to make more videos as I journey through the carpentry world here in Japan.
Jack are you on LinkedIn?
Love this!! So glad they taught you, I miss the US being equally kind to others. Much love to you and the workers. Be safe 🙏🏼❤️
Yeah we were pretty fortunate to witness this process. Thank you for watching.
Good opportunity to make a templé, this is a very good luck,that you found in the washing place! Are you originally from Japan? I’m from Argentina but I’m studying in the carpenter school in Denmark. How to build houses, but feels like a kinder-garden compared to Japanese carpentry. One day I will be there,I’m sure.
Yes, I was very fortunate to be doing my laundry that evening and seeing this advertisement for a carpentry school in Japan. I don't speak Japanese fluently and I consider myself very fortunate to find a company that has some English support and was willing enough to have me join them. That sounds amazing to be studying carpentry in Denmark. Every culture has a specific carpentry technique. My goal is to discover the Japanese techniques and what makes their style so sustainable and long lasting. Definitely, come to Japan if you have the time and if the pandemic allows. Its a great experience.
Fantastyczne
Master carpenter either rushes or pissed off the yakuza a few times
Really interesting, thank you for sharing. I am also in Tokyo and I would love to learn more about Woodworking (I just have a small workshop in my apartment). But my Japanese is limited and I’d love to find somewhere I can do some woodworking with some English support. Any advice?
Many of the places that do traditional Japanese carpentry are unable to support people in English. However, there is a school in Kyoto that was created to support English speakers wanting to learn Japanese carpentry or at least the beginning basics. One thing that I should mention is that I do not know Japanese well either, but I have some experience in construction and architecture which helps me to follow along even though I do not understand the language. Also, I think it would be useful to have a car to get to the shop as well as worksites. I've noticed most carpenters have a Kei car sized van that they use as a mobile tool box. There are a lot of tools and a lot of moving about. If you have a vehicle it really opens doors in Japan. Hence the reason why we started this KZhead channel. We wanted to show people (foreigner or Japanese locals) that having a car enables you to get to some of these more difficult to reach places.
Masters🙏💐🕊❣️🔥
Bom dia beleza de trabalho ñ tem como traduz em português
There is a lot to be said in making something that will last generations.
Obviously it takes a long time to become a master in Japan, but do you recall how long that carpentry school program was for?
The carpentry school program is approximately 3 years. Students work full time and go to the school for certain training.
Interesting to see all that Shinto imagery, like the torii or shide. I thought pagoda were a Buddhist thing only.
Beautiful. Is there a way to see the finished piece?
We plan on making another video for the completed pagoda. They recently finished the pagoda in early December 2020. Stay tuned.
Yeah curious to see how they remove all the permanent marker that has probably soaked in a couple millimeters...are they painting over it?
Anyone know the coordinates of this? Would love to look it up to see what it looks likes when finished
kzhead.info/sun/ktygoNORkHuQrYk/bejne.html This is the video of the copper roof being installed. You can see close to the final result in this video. We filmed this in a small town called Kannamachi in Gunma Prefecture. It may be hard to find as this is way up on a hill side. Recently, a second one was built on a neighboring hill side.
I would have though that the lumber sitting on concrete might accumulate water and rot, did they treat the lumber?
Good Question. They don't treat the wood, but the wood is hinoki which is commonly used in onsens (or bath houses) throughout Japan due to its ability to resist rotting. This is not to say that you won't get mold, but you may not rot for a while. The tiered roof also diverts water very well. The pagoda has since been completed with a copper clad roof and hinoki siding.
@@thecarpentrylife Interesting, good to know, thanks man!
There are many “rot resistant woods”, cedar is the most common in America. There are more expensive rot resistant hard woods like Epa, which are commonly used as decks when you can afford it. Rot is really only a problem when wood is exposed to moisture/water too often, and doesn’t have time to dry out. When done right, common exterior projects (sheds, barns, bridges, over hangs, posts) will last a very long time without any treated lumbar. In America, depending on where you live and the code, if you have a basement you might be required to use treated lumbar against all cement surfaces, if it’s load bearing. Treated lumber prevents mold after Sheetrock/drywall is put up, and is totally ok after your basement has been flooded.
What are those split shoes? They look great for movement and balance
Those shoes are selected by preference by the carpenters. They are like rubberized socks which makes it easier to walk along the beams. They are highly flexible allowing them to feel the surface they are walking on. To be honest I find that using these softer shoes I feel more stable.
Is there a name for those split toe shoes?
@@timothyreed8417 jika-tabi
👍
How are they so accurate when they mark out with a fairly wide brush,
It’s not a brush that’s the trick, it looks like a stick of wood that they carve into a fine wooden blade at the end. I bet that they carve the end to a certain dimension each time for accuracy.
They typically use an inking marking tool (Sumisashi) that is made from bamboo. The bamboo has fine cuts made into the beveled tip which can be periodically re-edged for a sharp profile. The "sumisashi" is not expensive, but the inking pot (Sumitsubo) is. Most carpenters will make their own sumitsubo and sumisashi. Interestingly, I do not see inking pots and bamboo marking tools being used as often as a handy #2 pencil or even an oil based ball point pen. One thing to note is that there is some technique with marking lines (Sumitsuke) using the right angle rule (Sashigane). There can be several degrees of variance if you don't learn proper holding techniques with the sashigane.
@@jjrossitee but the line left is thicker than a marking knife
Do they not put sill gasket between the timber and the slab? Seems odd for such a wet climate.
Hi, there is no sill gasket. I think the reason is for adequate air flow. Unfortunately, I do not know much about sill gaskets.
How did the project turn out? I've always wished I could learn how the Japanese build buildings then build like that here in the states,
It came out really nice.
A very wise man once said, " why do you toil to build a monument, when you already have a mountain?" - joseph henry k.o.f.
Arigato...
Thank you for watching.
Японцы делают вещи !
Is the dimpling just esthetics or does it serve a purpose?
Hi, the dimpling of the wood joints enables the pieces to slide together easily. Wood will swell back to its original shape in time with the high humidity of Japan. The dimpling also prevents the unwanted catching or damage to the show faces of the joints. Hope that helps.
@@thecarpentrylife excellent. Thank you very much.
one thing about seeing workers in a country that is a leader in tech and manufacturing is the fact that they still take great appreciation to traditional woodworking and means of construction. They pay as much homeage to their old ways and it is very inspiring!
Now to finish it to avoid the Fir rotting within a few years.
They spared no expense with the finishing. They applied a copper roof that looks incredible and Japanese cedar siding that will age beautifully in Gunma, Japan.
Japanese carpentry is insanely good. The attention to detail along with the craftsmanship make Japanese carpentry the worlds finest. If money were not an issue I would have a Japanese style home built.
Hi! Just wondering are there any Filipino Trainees in the video? :)
Not that I know of. In the past there was an Australian who attended the school, but he was fluent in Japanese.
what does a home like that cost to build in Japan
A home would have variable costs, given the design, location, and market price of the wood at the moment. Wood costs have fluctuated a lot as of recently so I can't put an exact number on this. However, a two bedroom with 1 bath house may cost around $300k to $450k (USD). I couldn't tell you the exact cost, because I have seen some customers spend more on foundation wood (exchanging Hinoki for Hiba). This is just an example. If you are planning on building a house using traditional Japanese techniques I would reserve $400k for wood and labor, this would not include the interior amenities that you may want.
5:57 safety boots 🥾
Haha. Yeah I was a little worried.
Why do they dimple the wood?
Dimpling the wood near the joint allows the pieces to slide together smoother. The fit is so exact that slight humidity changes will cause the wood to swell from the time it was cut to the time it is built.
Chinese carpentry like Kanji and rice and Chopsticks etc!
Imagine the cost of that structure...
Not actually that much in the long run... Well-made things tend to be that way.
Buying wood from a lumberyard can be costly. Interestingly, the school actually recommends its students to own the forest. Learning from the trees is important to Japanese carpenters. Direction of sunlight, orientation on the mountain side, water sources, etc. all affect what they use. Carpenters here try to use all parts of the wood in some way. Some carpenters buy wood years in advance for projects. Some temple repairs here take decades because the carpenters will take the first 15 years trying to find the right wood.
Sustainable construction. 200 to 300 year old trees are harvested for structures designed to last 1000 years or more. That is what we are most amazed about.
fucking brilliant minds.
Kumiki is actually influenced from China. I've worked in construction in Japan for roughly 5 years and am hoping to learn more in China someday. I'm happy to see so many people interested in it.
The master lost 3 fingers...