Intermediate Course

14 Days | Okayama, Japan

14 Days Course Outline:

  • Lectures on building design, layout and traditional proportions

  • Learn how to choose the right joinery when designing a timber frame

  • Learn how to acquire, select and orient material

  • Laying out using traditional center-line methods with ink and sashigane

  • Scribing round and irregular material to achieve a tight fit

  • Hand tool practice through the cutting of complex joinery (using saws, chisels and hand planes)

  • Practice on finishing wood surfaces through the use of a finely-tuned hand plane (Kanna)

  • 1/3 scale model of a traditional frame to practice the above

  • Visit to local timber merchants

  • Completion of foundation course is highly recommended

Class Schedule:

  • Class size: 8 students

  • Lessons: Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm

  • Teachers available until 5pm

  • Our workshop space can be used daily for practice from 9am to 6pm

  • We will conduct day-trips and excursions on Saturdays

  • Course will be conducted in English

Additional Info:

  • Meals and accommodation are not provided.

  • We can however recommend hotels that are near Okayama Station.

  • Transportation will be provided daily between the workshop and Okayama Station.

  • You will need to prepare the following tools to attend the class. We can help you purchase on your behalf if you do not have them:

    1. Ryoba Saw 240mm

    2. Bench Chisels 3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 15mm (Oire Nomi)

    3. 150 momme Hammer with handle (Genno)

    4. Plane 54mm (Kanna)

    5. Square 15cm x 30cm, 25cm x 50cm (metric) (Sashigane)

    6. Sharpening Stones

    7. Dozuki Crosscut Saw

    8. Straight edge & sandpaper

    9. Ink Line Marking Gauge (Kebiki)

    10. Dai Naoshi Kanna

School Fees:

  • ¥470,000

  • Upon confirmation, we will send you an email with more information regarding accommodation options, tool purchase and the course so that you can plan your trip in advance.

  • If you are suddenly unable to attend the course we may be able to find a replacement from our waitlist and arrange for a partial refund.

  • In the event of unavailability, we will offer to add you to our waiting list.

  • Cancellation Policy:

    1. 60 days before start date:

      1. Cancel: 50% refund

      2. No changing of course/course date

    2. 30 days before start date:

      1. No refund

      2. No changing of course/course date