Throughout the apprenticeship, I was pleasantly surprised to see the ways in which so many artists and craftspeople were collaborating together. In place of scarcity-based competition was collective-based support and community. There was so much respect and genuine friendship amongst various artists and craftspeople, from carpenters and cooks to lacquer refiners and brush makers. This program really wouldn’t have been the same without the collective efforts of various artists in and around the Kyoto area. I wanted to feature just a few of them here.
Bears Wood Project
I already did a small feature of Bears Wood Project here. Later in our program, we met the heads of BWP and they gave us a full presentation and shared more details about their project. They teamed up with our sashimono program and helped build the workshop and benches. They support a number of local businesses, woodworkers, and artists. You can learn more about their project here.
After a bear removes the bark (from this cedar tree, for example), the tree will try to protect its exposed cambium by folding in layers of bark. Logging companies will typically discard such warped trees, but BWP intentionally saves them and repurposes the timber towards all kinds of projects from workbenches to surfboards.
Mitsuru Yokoyama – Tatami Maker
We had a chance to visit Mitsuru and take a tour of his tatami workshop. He and his wife collaborated with our sashimono program to make all the tatami for our guest house, which was quite luxurious considering his work is usually featured in Japanese temples or contemporary spaces abroad.
Mitsuru is a first generation tatami maker but has made a name for himself both in Japan and internationally, not only for his fine craftsmanship, but for his contemporary approach to colouring tatami mats. Check out more of his work here.
Takuya Tsutsumi – Urushi Refiner
We met Takuya early on in our program. As a fourth-gen urushi refiner, he has a lot of wisdom and experience to share. He taught us a wipe-on lacquer technique to help finish our bento box. You can see the results here. As one of the largest urushi refiners in Japan, he works with all kinds of artists, craftspeople, and businesses across Japan and abroad. His retail space is stunning and worth checking out if you’re in the Kyoto area.
Takuya gave us a tour of his refinery before teaching us a technique of applying thinned urushi which acts as a protective, food safe, and completely natural wood finish that has been used in Japan for centuries. He’s an excellent teacher and a laidback, fun person to be around in general. From temples to beaches, bicycles to chopsticks, interior to exterior, Takuya’s urushi is used far in wide and ways I never imagined.
There were other local people who supported our sashimono program who don’t have retail spaces or websites.
- “Seiya-san” was a young but experienced carpenter who assisted our main teachers almost everyday. His bright and enthusiastic energy was a welcome addition to the program.
- “Ueda-san” taught us woodturning at his workshop in Keihoku one day and helped us turn plates and bowls out of Japanese cypress. He is one of the few woodturners in Japan who can turn ultra thin, Kyoto-style rice bowls.
- “Kikuno-san” is the wife of Hyodo sensei, the head sashimono teacher. She is also a student of Japanese tea ceremony and a Shinto priest. The program would not have been the same without her kindness, knowledge of Japanese culture, and genuine friendship
Deep bows to everyone who took part in this program and supported in one way or another, through craftsmanship, artistry, guidance, or just being of service whenever and wherever necessary.
The Wooden Mirror 
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