Upcoming Workshops at JTA
We are thrilled to welcome Hiroshi Yamaguchi back for a special workshop over the June long weekend, where you'll craft the beautifully designed Kanawa Pencase.
Because of the intricate nature of this project, this class is divided into two sections which are enrolled separately.
The Saturday of the long weekend introduces students to the Kanawa-Tsugi as it is found in Japanese structures, and students will cut their own Kanawa joint under Hiroshi's supervision.
This day can be enrolled as a standalone class and costs $410.
The Sunday and Monday of the June long weekend are dedicated to producing a pencil box with the lid in the form of the Kanawa joint. Hiroshi has secured permission from the inventor of this design to teach it, and this will be the second design in which he does so following Miyajima last year.
The two-day box making enrollment costs $690. If you would like to enroll all three days, please add both enrolments to your cart to receive an automatic 5% discount ($1050)Kanawa Joinery with Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Single Day - 6th June : Japanese joints making workshop “Kanawa”
Two Days - 7-8th June :“Kanawa” pencil box making workshop (2-days workshop)
Kanawa Tsugi
Mini traditional Japanese Joints
This is a 1-day course
$410 (or 5% discount price for all 3 days $1050)
6 June, Sat, 2026
Skill focus class, suited for beginner, intermediate, people interested in Japanese Joinery
Content
Making the strongest traditional Japanese Joint, Kanawa tsugi
This program includes a lot of Japanese saw and chisel experience.
Well suited to those looking to improve their hand skills.
Well suited for intermediate level and those interested in Japanese joinery.
We will also present examples of other Japanese traditional joinery used in traditional carpentry in Japan.
What is Kanawa Tsugi?
The Kanawa Tsugi is one of strongest traditional Japanese carpentry joinery. This technique involves complex, interlocking wooden joints that form a strong bond. Two pieces of wood would be carved in a way where it would successfully interlock without the use of nails, screws or chemicals. Friction joints in multiple directions for maximum hold.
What you can gain
1. Make a Traditional Japanese Joint to take home
2. Hands on Experience with Marking-out and using a Japanese saw
3. The essence of the Kanawa- Tsugi
Dates
6 June 2026 (Sat)
Time
9:00-17:00, 7 hours
* Please be flexible with your schedule and the finishing time of the class. Sometimes your project requires extra time to complete.
Proposed schedule
Day 1
AM: Lecture. Saw
PM: Chisel and finish
Lecturer
Hiroshi Yamaguchi (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)
Over 30 years of experience. Learned in Takayama, Japan.
Fee
$410
or 5% discount price for all 3 days $1050
Class size
Maximum 12
Location
Japanese Tools Australia
Things to be supplied
Lunch
Tea and coffee, snacks, filtered water
Refund Policy
Personal cancelation
Refunds up to 14 days before event
Kanawa Pencase
This is a 2-days course
$595 (or 5% discount price for all 3 days $1050)
13-14 June, Sun - Mon, 2026
Our new workshop program with award winning design item by Masashi Kutsuwa.
Beginners welcome.
Rich in special skill experience and cultural knowledge for intermediate woodworkers.
Based on traditional "Kanawa Tsugi", Japanese saw, chisel, plane works.
Content
Making Pencil / pen case, with inspiration from "Kanawa-Tsugi" joints.
Well suited for beginners.
Well suited for people who loves Japanese carpentry joinery.
Well suited for people who love beautiful craft.
Kanawa-Tsugi
The Kanawa Tsugi is one of strongest traditional Japanese carpentry joinery. This technique involves complex, interlocking wooden joints that form a strong bond. Two pieces of wood would be carved in a way where it would successfully interlock without the use of nails, screws or chemicals. Friction joints in multiple directions for maximum hold.
Designed by Masashi Kutsuwa in 2007, award winning design
This pen case is award winning piece by Masashi Kutsuwa in Takaoka craft Competition in 2008.
One of 3 different designs all inspired from Japanese traditional joinery.
About Masashi Kutsuwa
Designer of "Kanawa" Pen Case
Professor of woodwork at Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture
Representative Director of Ginowa (General incorporated association)
Masashi is not just a very good designer & maker in Japan, he is also actively working for social purposes.
After working as a director in the NHK news department (8 years), training in woodworking in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture (2 years), and working as a furniture craftsman in the UK (5 years), he has been a teaching woodwork at Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture since 2006. His unique approach towards education led to introducing and blossoming successful Green Woodworking activities in Japan. He is involved in international exchange in the field of woodworking, including inviting overseas woodworkers to Japan for lectures and planning, managing, and interpreting for lectures overseas by Japanese woodworkers. He is involved in the preservation and transmission of traditional crafts and cultural assets in Gifu Prefecture, such as training successors to make cormorant baskets for the Nagara River cormorant fishing, securing materials for Gifu Japanese umbrellas (Egonoki Project), recording the manufacturing techniques for cormorant fishing boats, and securing boat carpentry tools. He founded Ginowa after visiting and interviewing blacksmiths who make tools all over Japan as a researcher for the Gifu Prefecture Cultural Heritage Division's "Project to Preserve and Pass on Tools that Support Craftsmanship" for five years starting in 2019.
Books: "Van Gogh's Chair," "Green Woodwork," "Green Woodwork Revised and Expanded Edition," and "Making Chairs with Green Woodwork."
Link
https://www.forest.ac.jp/english/https://www.instagram.com/ginowa_/
We will be donating 5% of the sales to Ginowa Organization, Masashi's traditional craft conservation activities.
You will gain the following from signing up
- "Kanawa" Pencase, all made by yourself by hand.
- Hands-on Japanese saw, Japanese plane experience.
- Hands-on Japanese chisel experience with fine cutting and fitting.
Date
7-8 June (Sun – Mon, public holiday) 2026
Time
2 days, 12 hours in total
Day 1: 9:00-12:00 | 13:00-16:00
Day 2: 9:00-12:00 | 13:00-16:00
* Please be flexible with your schedule after the class. Sometimes your project requires extra time to finish.
Schedule
Day 1 of pencase making
AM: Lecture, Miter cut
PM: Groove cut / Glue up the main box
Day 2 of pencase making
AM: Cutting the joinery on the lid.
PM: Final adjustment
Lecturer
Hiroshi Yamaguchi (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)
Over 30 years of experience. Learned in Takayama, Japan.
Fee
$595
or 5% discount price for all 3 days $1050
Class size
Maximum 12
Location
Japanese Tools Australia
Things to bring
Please wear working shoes.
Bring your own water bottle and lunch.
Things to be supplied
Lunch included
Tea and coffee, snacks, filtered water
Refund Policy
Personal cancelation
Refunds up to 14 days before event
Administration fee of 10% is nonrefundable.
