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28th November 2014, 12:48 AM #1Novice
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KEZUROU-KAI meet up in Japan, May 5-6 2015 in Kobe. Who wants to come?
Funny, there is a meet-up in Japan twice a year, and it is the Greatest Show On Earth as far as japanese tools and their use is concerned. It is called Kezurou-kai (wood planing meet). Most of you here know about it but I never see any of you there.
I propose a mass attendance of gals and fellows all show up there in May 5-6 in Kobe from the U.S. and Europe and Australia. I guarantee that if you attend that there will be services and welcome mats out for any serious students of any of the various fields of interest. I and a friend compeated early this month at the Kezuroukai held in Odawara and we were the only non-Japanese citizens pulling shavings. There was a small group from the U.S. led by Suzuki-san (she's from Berkeley) that was there parts of both days walking around and buying tools, but that was about it.
The Kezuroukai is a treasure. It's a wonderland. Peopled by the finest professional craftspersons and the most enthsiastic amateurs anywhere, the best blacksmiths, miners, building and furniture makers with solid roots in traditional techniques and attitudes all there to share on an equal playing field.
http://www.thejapanstone.com/kezuroukai.htm
If any of you are professionals, you can most likely attend a kezuroukai, buy a few tools and attended and discussion, pick up a few business cards, and write much of the trip off on your taxes.
If any of you are amateur knife makers, tool makers or woodworkers of some sort and you have not attended a kezuroukai yet, a chapter is left out of your book of life as a craftsperson.
You can fly into Kobe or Osaka. The Kezuroukai is going to be held on an island in Kobe bay that has a train that goes right out to it, its a beautiful place. The city of Kobe is like a miniature San Francisco. You can walk around the city at anytime of the day or night, its beautiful. The Takenaka Tool Museum is in Kobe about 5 minutes walk from the Shinkansen station. I was there two weeks ago, it is their brand new musuem they built in a neighborhood in Kobe and it is the best japanese tool museum in the world, guaranteed.
http://www.dougukan.jp/contents-en/
I am not going to pay for anyones tickets to Japan, but I would love to meet any of you there in May. The organizers of the Kezuroukai are all volunteers, they would love to have some new competators or just visitors. If you ever want to attend the rock concert of japanese woodworking, this is it and the staff and the japanese woodworking community is waiting with open arms. And it is all free.
Alex
TheJapanStone
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28th November 2014, 01:39 AM #2Senior Member
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Aha, you're thejapanstone Alex, nice to see you again.
Pam
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28th November 2014, 06:39 AM #3Novice
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Pam
You are one of those people I would love to see tooling around Japan, I know that you would fit right in.
Alex
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28th November 2014, 05:43 PM #4Intermediate Member
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Thanks for the informative post. It sounds like a lot of fun!
I'd like to go, but not sure if I'll be able to go to Japan again just yet.. but maybe!
Earlier this year, I did go to the Takenaka tool museum too, but it was still being renovated after the move, so it was closed when I was there.
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28th November 2014, 07:56 PM #5Senior Member
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That's what I thought, too, until I experienced a couple of events in California, and keep in mind it's a 2000 or so mile trip, so some effort and money required: 1) Yataiki seminar, at the beginning of which he made a point of telling Kiyoko to tell me that he normally didn't teach women but he was making a big exception for this event, and it got worse, much worse; and 2) the Hida kezurou-kai in Oakland (at which I think I met you) at which Hida staff were very friendly, but none of the woodworkers/attendees would even talk to me, I wandered around the workshop for 2 days doing nothing, got no chance to contribute to building the gate, or even carry a piece of wood. And to think I made Jack rush through the drive from LA to Oakland so I could make it in time.
And then there's Toshio, who taught me to use the tools (especially the saw, I'm forever grateful for that) in a weekend workshop; but then 3 years later, as if I couldn't have possibly learned anything over those years, he muddied the water so much over a 2 hour Japanese tool survey course I had agreed to teach that it became impossible, had to drop out. He was so pleased to take my place. Now, it would have been understandable if the school had chosen him to start with, but they didn't.
So, yeah, I'd love to pal around Japan with you and your wife, but I don't want to spend one more minute of my life dealing with men who don't want me using tools, or any other "male" things I do, like developing software, riding motorcycles, ...
Pam
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29th November 2014, 02:07 AM #6Novice
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Pam
That does not sound good or fair. The Yataiki class at the Sausalito boat yard I am sorry I missed that, and too bad that Kiyoko was pressed to do that dirty deed. Blacksmiths of his generation were very conservative and usually aloof around women, unless they had a few drinks under their belt. I am not apologizing for him as that was uncalled for. I had to deal with the same sexism when I worked in a shop in Japan, and that is one of the reasons I quit. The boss was pressuring me to go for the annual trip to Taiwan, a basically "get laid" event for the guys.
The kezuroukai's are pretty much peopled by much younger people of both sexes, I look old there. Everyone is so busy and there is so much to do everyone is really upbeat because it is a netural field. I have a few photos my partner took at the kezuroukai but now here are some taken in the Takenaka Museum.
Alex
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29th November 2014, 11:18 AM #7
I am expecting to be in Japan at some time next year, but my timing will be determined by others in the family. Should the times coincide I'll make every effort to get there.
Neil
PS - I appreciate what Pam is saying about her experience as a woman carpenter with traditional Japanese men. It's still a very custom bound society, which can be understood from their history. Their tools are also a product of that history. Alex's anecdote about the Taiwan trips is more than just about sexism in Japanese society. It's a complex topic for another time.
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29th November 2014, 12:09 PM #8Senior Member
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But I forgot to mention how wonderful Inomoto-san was, he and Harrelson taught me how to make Japanese planes.
I don't feel particularly bad about these other experiences, more like very tired and unwilling to argue about it any more. So, they win (I decided not to pursue any sort of woodworking as a profession, but I instead have pursued writing fiction, which is wonderful, I'm good at it); and I go on doing woodworking privately without these kinds of hassles. I like it that I seem to have a few friends in these forums.
Pam
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30th November 2014, 10:26 AM #9Novice
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30th November 2014, 08:17 PM #10Senior Member
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1st December 2014, 06:07 AM #11Novice
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New Posting by the organizers of Kezuroukai
The origanizers of the Kezuroukai have just posted some details for he next meet on May 5&6 2015 in Kobe. The big news is that the Takenaka Tool Museum will be setting up a special Chiyozuru Korehide exhibition, and I am sure all stops will be pulled out for this meeting. This is a Tuesday and Wednesday meeting, and it is during Golden Week, one of the major holidays in Japan and hotel reservations can be difficult at the last minute.
Below is a like to the Posting for the meet.
Alex
http://kezuroukai.jp/sp/
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10th March 2015, 10:45 PM #12New Member
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Really thank you !
There are sometimes strange coincidences in life. I was planning to go back to Kobe during the spring and was looking for information regarding woodworking there. Shops, courses, advises.... and I came up on your post !
Thank you very much, my plane ticket is in my pocket and got accommodation booked for the first days... will be there
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11th March 2015, 12:18 PM #13Novice
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14th March 2015, 04:00 AM #14New Member
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16th March 2015, 07:26 AM #15Novice
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Philippe
I look forward to it, and I will share your questions if you don't mind.
I quote in part,
"Do you know what are my chances to meet at Kezuroukai someone who could provide me with a course regarding any
carpentry, furniture making, tool making in traditional way ? and in English ?"
A couple of suggestions and these are just off the top of my head.
First: make youself a tee-shirt that reads something like "Hello, do you speak English?" or "I Want to Learn". This might attract someone who does. Lots and lots of people in Japan can read english, or even speak it but are too shy in public. you might be surprised.
Second: when you go in the door of the kezuroukai reception I would recommend that you become a member. International membership for me by mail was free. It might be free for you also or it could just be a small charge of a few dollars. This gives you a chance to talk to someone at the kezuroukai reception in English. There are a lot of young people working as helpers and some do speak english, so give it a try.
Thirdly: try and be at the kezuroukai both the first and second day too. The first day is more casual and the second is more competitive. Everyone there is pretty skilled at what they do but not everyone is a carpenter or blacksmith, but there are some of both. Being there both days will give you your best shot. The second day is when the really good wood shaving takes place and they give out prizes.
Fourthly: The Takenaka Tool museum has a demonstration workshop. If I were you I would write the the Museum a letter ahead of time and try to schedule a class. And at the kezuroukai there are demonstrations that you can participate in, like sawing timbers and handplanning. I am sort of shy but still I have done those, you can too, you just have to hang around and someone will ask you if you want to try.
I hope I will see you there, I have sort of a long white beard and messy hair.
Good Luck
Alex
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