Fall 2025
October 13-17

Would you like to begin working with Japanese tools but struggle with the quantity and often conflicting information online? In this five day course, you will learn the basics to sharpen and tune a minimal set of Japanese tools and workbench to get started in Japanese woodworking.  

In this five day course, you will learn the fundamentals to sharpen and tune a basic set of Japanese woodworking tools. Partly theoretical, and mostly hands-on, this course is designed so that you leave with enough knowledge to make a start at home with your own joinery projects. 

We ask that you bring your own set of chisels, saws, and planes to set up. During the course, we will go through each of these tools and make sure that they are properly tuned and ready to use by the end of the course. Under Emi’s guidance, you will practice using and tuning your tools to form a foundational understanding of the Japanese woodworking tradition and create a core competency to continue to build your practice on future projects.

In this course, you will learn to troubleshoot your tools and adapt them for future work. On the last day we will complete one small joint using your newly set-up tools. Preparing your tools for accurate work takes some time to learn and a lifetime to master. There will be plenty of sharpening during this course. 

Tools

Required:

• Tataki Nomi 12 & 24mm bench chisels minimum (hand held with ring on top)

• Tsuki Nomi 24mm paring chisel (no ring on top), Usunomi also ok if you plan on doing finer woodworking

• Sharpening whetstones: 1000 grit and 8000 grit is best (or combination stone 1000/6000)

• Measuring tools: Sashigane (carpenters square) 30-50cm

• Tri square, 15cm

• Ryoba saw, or one with crosscut, one with rip cut blade

• Small Kanna (with chip breaker), 48mm and up. Japanese, laminated steel blades

• Diamond Plate for flattening whetstones, 400 grit 

• Engineered straight edge, 10cm

• Pencil or marking knife

• Japanese Hammer: 375g for larger working, 275g for lighter work

• Water spray bottle

• Square plastic bucket that fits the whetstones for soaking in water
  

Suggested:’

• Kanaban, Metal Plate

Prerequisites

For beginners. This course is for those who wish to pursue a part-time interest or future working with wood and Japanese tools.

Class Information and Registration

Classes run 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday in Building 304 at Fort Worden. Map
Please read our What to Expect page for general information about the School.
Please also read our Registration Policy.
Please sign up for the waitlist if the course is full.

Class size: 10
Cost: $940
Materials Charge: $25