Meet your teacher

Yuji Kanesada兼定裕嗣

Traditional carpenter · Kanesada Bansho, Gujō, Gifu

Yuji Kanesada has worked as a traditional Japanese carpenter since 1993. He builds minka, timber houses held together by joinery, wooden pins and wedges, and has worked on temples, shrines, a tea house and castles across Japan, including Important Cultural Properties and the National Treasure Inuyama Castle.

He runs his own building company, Kanesada Bansho, in Gujō, Gifu, and is a certified master carpenter of Japanese traditional architecture. He teaches in English.

See the 2027 workshops

30+ yearsas a traditional carpenter, since 1993
15temple, shrine, castle and tea house projects
Tōryōcertified master carpenter of Japanese traditional architecture
National Treasureseismic reinforcement of Inuyama Castle

Yuji's work

Building in timber

Bōro-an, a tea house in Gifu

From 2005 to 2008 Yuji spent 32 months building Bōro-an (忘路庵), a tea house at the Saito family villa in Gifu.

It's the story behind his evening talk, Making a Tea House, which he gives during the 2027 workshops in Sydney and Canberra.

Bōro-an tea house built by Yuji Kanesada in Gifu — Bōro-an tea house

Tatami tea room inside the Bōro-an tea house

Building his own home

Between 2012 and 2018 Yuji built his own family home in Gifu using traditional construction methods, the same way he builds timber houses for clients across Gifu, Aichi and Mie.

Timber frame of the Kanesada house during construction — The Kanesada house during construction

The Kanesada house, built with traditional joinery in Gifu

Qualifications

Certified master carpenter (tōryō) of Japanese traditional architectureJapan Traditional Architecture Technique Preservation Society, approved by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology2017
Takumi no Kuni Gifu Prefecture Traditional Architect2021
First-class architect2006
First-class architectural carpentry technician2006
First-class architectural construction management engineer2005
Qualified technical supervisor2020

Selected work, 1993 to today

Highlights from more than 30 years of temples, shrines, castles, a tea house and timber homes across Japan.

1993–1998 Timber houses built with traditional methodsGifu and Aichi
1998 Shinmei Shrine worship hall and offering hallAichi · new build
1998–1999 Jigenji Temple gateAichi · new build
1999 Fudō Hall, Fukōji TempleOsaka · new build
1999 Hakusanhime Shrine worship hall, Hiyoshi ShrineImportant Cultural PropertyShiga · restoration
1999 Hikone Castle front gate bridgeHistoric SiteShiga · repair
1999–2000 Stone lantern shelter, Sandai ShrineImportant Cultural PropertyShiga · new build
2000 Main hall, Hōshinji TempleHyogo · new build
2000 Stone lantern shelter, Kagami ShrineImportant Cultural PropertyShiga · new build
2000–2002 Main hall, Eifukuji TempleShiga · new build
2002 Shinryūji Temple, roofOsaka · repair
2002–2003 Osabai HallKochi · new build
2003 Shinryūji Temple, ceilingOsaka · replacement
2003–2004 Main hall and priests' quarters, Myōkōji TempleWakayama · new build
2005–2008 Bōro-an tea house, Saito family villaGifu · new build
2008–today Timber houses built with traditional methodsGifu, Aichi and Mie
2012–2018 The Kanesada house, his own homeGifu · traditional construction
2018–2019 Inuyama Castle seismic reinforcementNational TreasureAichi