Fall 2025
October 20-24

What’s the difference between a lapped-dovetail scarf joint and dadoed-and-rabbeted scarf joint in the Japanese tradition? In this five-day course, you will learn how to layout, cut, and fit these joints using traditional Japanese techniques. Partly theoretical, and mostly hands-on, this course is designed to teach you basic joinery examples used in traditional residential buildings, often hidden or barely noticeable. This course is perfect for those who wish to delve into the world of Japanese timber framing joints.

In this five-day course, you will be guided through projects to deepen your understanding of Japanese woodworking, sharpening, layout, and joinery. This course includes a group project around simple sawhorse construction to allow for practice at different heights. You will dive into joint replication guided by Emi, and come away with a deeper understanding and respect for the Japanese tradition. 

From Emi: “You will be guided through three traditional, standard construction joints, learning to use traditional hand tools as the course progresses to make them. Initially, I set myself this challenge, guided by my curiosity in my Japanese aunt and great uncle’s carpentry profession in Japan. Making 1:1 joints was the first thing I did to introduce myself and prove to myself and my aunt that I wanted to take this profession further. Whether you join out of curiosity or as a stepping stone into this world of woodworking, the main focus will be on getting the best out of using precision Japanese tools and creating beautiful fitting joinery.” 

For those new to sharpening, there will be a short sharpening course to keep your tools sharp throughout the course. By making 1:1 examples of these joints you will learn marking up, cutting order, and how to get the best precision for a good fit.

If you are familiar with Western tools or ways of working, there may be a step back to go forward, but it will be rewarding. As we explore the Japanese tradition, we will learn different attitudes, ways of working, techniques, and awareness of wood as a living material.  

Tools

Required:

• Oire Nomi 12 & 24mm bench chisels minimum (hand held with ring on top)(Already set up!)

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

• 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 (Already set up!)

• Diamond Plate for flattening whetstones, 400 grit 

• Engineered straight edge, 10cm

• Pencil (2H)

• 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

• Whetstone holder (Economic choice: Wooden block and wet towel)

• Oil pot and Camilia oil

• Dainaoshi Kanna (economic choice: metal scraper)

• Straight edge(s) - 10cm, 30cm

• Bevel gauge

Prerequisites

Some skills required. You will need to understand the Japanese tools maintenance and set up to be successful in this course. Taking the Setting up Japanese Tools course will be excellent training for this course.

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: $1000
Materials Charge: $75