Hey,
I’m going to Japan for the first time on business (the real job). I’ll be in Tokyo and Yokohama in May and my host wants to know what I would like to do during my free time. Does anyone know of museums that might highlight woodworking? Or if there is a woodworking store where I might oogle at the chisels and saws? Other tourist suggestions also welcome…
Bill
Powell hardwood Designs…
Ph.D.
Replies
You may want to visit this guy, who's gotta have the most unusual workshop on the planet: http://ablett.jp/workshop/index.htm
If you can get him to take you to Takayama it would be worth the trip. I hear It's sort of a woodworkers mecca in Japan.
This could be a long answer...I'll do my best to keep this as short as possible.
My first suggestion would be to visit some old structures such as houses, shrines, and temples. You'll see framed construction with large timbers and elaborate joinery for sure, but furniture may be hit and miss.
If you're looking for furniture you may do better with places 100 - 150 years old because of the history and style. Before this time (1859) it was considered the time of the samurai and people were poor and houses were functional and sparse. After this time the "doors" were opened to the west which influenced the lives of people here.
I have seen period furniture in houses that have been preserved because a famous person lived there (writers, musicians, etc.).
I've never seen a museum for furniture but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. I've lived in Japan for quite a while and I'm still reminded on a daily basis of what I don't know about this place.
If I was looking for cabinets and furniture I'd ask about "Tansu". There seems to be somewhat of a revival these days in these old style cabinets.
If I was looking for tools I'd go to a "Doguya-san" or tool shop. They'd cater to the professional thus better quality tools. Whereas the hardware/home center would cater to the general population. Don't get me wrong here, I've spent hours in hardware stores looking and trying to figure out what everything was for. That in itself is a tourist destination as far as I'm concerned, much to the chagrin of my host who in retrospect was probable scratching his head wondering why his guest was so interested in this place.
Pros to a "Doguya-san" is the quality and type of tools, many are hand made and made to order.
Cons are they can be small family owned shops and inventory is limited. When I buy tools there is a 90% chance I have to order them. An example is when I buy plane I have to draw and dimension what I need and they send it out and in a week or a month I have a new plane. They will carry the common planes with the machine-produced blades. (They should also carry the hand forged blades but be prepared to pay a lot for these.)
Pros to a Hardware/Home Center is the large inventory and lower cost.
Cons are, although by all means acceptable, quality is typical with massed produced products. Another con may be you can spend A LOT of time looking around.
A suggestion to see woodworking is go to a factory. That's always an education in itself. I prefer handmade opposed to mass-produced so you may want to distinguish between the two. The handmade furniture may be harder to find though. I've been to mass-produced furniture factories. And you'll find, like the "Doguya-san" that the factories are small and family owned. (Which may account, in part, for the high cost here.) Again an education in itself.
Sorry for the long answer, but I've taken a lot from everyone on this site and this is an area where I can give back.
Good luck,
pqken
Great post.. As I saw it.. Like in China.. Old furniture hidden and VERY OLD! You cannot touch it.. Like in the USA unless ya got 'connections!'Look at this.. Old Post I had from China
http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=23969.1
Edited 2/3/2006 5:50 am by WillGeorge
Thanks WillGeorge. Nice pictures of the tomb. So you like to sneak picture huh? A while back a friend and I were in South Korea and he wanted a picture of the riot police that stand guard when there is the slightest possibility of any disturbance. I stood smiling while my friend took a picture of the guard standing behind me. To say the least the guard (with his big stick) didn't think too kindly of us staging a picture on his behalf.Another experience I had here in Japan was at a shrine, (it's a famous place of the red colored "gate" that is in the water). There's a large log (2+ yards in dia.) there about 500 years old. People touch it and it's supposed to be beneficial for a long life. Nice chunk of wood that'd make a nice table top.
sneak picture huh? ?? Geeee I was just standing there and the flash bulb went off! I told the guard I can't read China stuff!
People touch it and it's supposed to be beneficial for a long life.Geee I think I touched a STOP sighn ( Ya know..One of them Octocon things!) once and been downhill since that!EDIT: Japan has wonderful folks.. Womens are pretty too! Just enjoy and try to learn some of ther language.. I could not because of 'Tin' ears.. Old USA tank mechanic.. My ears are shot...Like I said..
Nice folks when they not off to work or going home!Edited 2/3/2006 7:45 am by WillGeorge Not sure this will workI told her...HI! I'm from America and you sure a pretty girl.. You married?She said.. ‚±‚ñ‚É‚¿‚Í! Ž„‚̓AƒƒŠƒJ‹y‚Ñ‚ ‚È‚½‚©‚ç‚«‚ê‚¢‚È—‚ÌŽq–{“–‚É‚ ‚éBŒ‹¥‚µ‚½‚©BEdited 2/3/2006 7:51 am by WillGeorge
I have NO idea what she responded!Edited 2/3/2006 7:53 am by WillGeorgeEdited 2/3/2006 7:55 am by WillGeorge
こんにちは! 私はアメリカ及びあなたからきれいな女の子本当にある。結婚したか。 is the same thing as.. HI! I'm from America and you sure a pretty girl.. You married?
I think?
Edited 2/3/2006 8:07 am by WillGeorge
Your Japanese (especially writing) is admirable. I'm guessing from what you wrote that your time here was a while ago. How many years?As shy as the people are here I can imagine she turned all shades of red after you told her she was pretty.You say downhill...I've seen some pictures of some of the pieces you made, if this is downhill the rest of us don't have a chance!And yes, the women here are beautiful.
I dropped a note to a Knots friend who has been over there several times on long business trips. Hopefully, he'll stop by and give you some tips.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Do unto others as you tell them they should do unto you....
Bill,
Forestgirl sent me an email saying someone was headed to Tokyo.
I lived there on and off for a year. I spent every weekend wandering around. There are so many gardens and museums in Tokyo. There are different districts there that cater to particular needs. Kapabashi-dori is the Kitchen district, just a short walk from Asakusa. Asakusabashi is the area where they sell all the classic Japanese dolls. Unfortunately there isn't a woodworking district. Small shops are scattered around and hard to find.
If you have day I would head for Nihon Minka-En. It's about a hour outside of Tokyo. I believe you have to catch the Odakyu line from Shinjuku. It's a wonderful place to view old home styles in Japan. Sort of an Williamsburg. In the middle of the "town" is a soba house that serves lunch. It was delicious.
http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/88/88minka/home/minka_e.htm
In Shinjuku is a sword museum. The displays are nice but what makes it so neat is the brochures that explain the process and identification of particular makers. In addition you might want to stop in at Tokyu Hands. It's a Japanese Department store with a lumber department. There are tools too but mostly meant for the homeowner.
http://www007.upp.so-net.ne.jp/nbthk-tk/English/sword_museum.htm
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tokyo/S27141.html
Some quick evening fun is to go to Akihabara (Electric City) It just full of Japanese electronic stores and other pop culture stuff.
http://www.akiba.or.jp/index_e.html
I would spend some time at the Imperial Gardens and the museums, If you can.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3017.html
Enjoy your trip! Let us know what you saw.
Len
Been there many times.. Helps if you learn to say HI! in Japanese!
Wonderful but STRANGE folks! I loved them for some reason..
Hope you find something! I tried that in China.. Asked for wood workers.. I hired a translator and guide.. She said ya' want to go there? LOL...
She said not in her book of attractions?
EDIT: I was in China for my two new grandbabies. Two trips about two years apart.. They ARE MY sweeties! Gee.. So Mom put them in a gutter? Damn! They are smart as tacks! Old saying I thought of cus I old.. China folks were really NICE TO US! Wonderful trips...
Had one old guard stop us.. He was OK after I told him we was from the USA.. Did not have guns and stuck a baby with smelly diapers in his face,,,
Edited 2/3/2006 5:37 am by WillGeorge
All of the suggestions given to you by others are excellent, and I've been able to indulge myself in visiting many of them. However, I also know that business in Japan usually tends to take more time than expected, and 'spare' time disappears quickly.
In that vein, while you are in Tokyo you might want to consider finding the Tokyu Hands department store. I'm reaching here, but I think it is is in the Shibuya district. The hardware section is on the 5th or 6th floor, and has a good selection of chisels, planes and saws.
Enjoy your time in Japan. If you approach it with the right attitude, one trip won't be enough!
Regards,
Ron
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