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The Path to Japan Winds Through My Grandfather’s Tool Chest

My grandparents’ farmhouse in Stockton had a dirt cellar. In it were many things: jars of pickles, crocks of dried fruit, paint cans – the usual stuff. But what drew me like a magnet was my grandfather’s tool chest. Because he was extremely protective of it and its contents, I learned from my older cousins that the chest was to be treated like a sacred object. I remember sneaking into the cellar to examine the mysterious artifacts in the chest. To my regret, the barriers of language and the generations kept me from learning more. I could only guess what they were and what could be done with them. Yet these were the tools that he packed across the Pacific Ocean to a strange land with the hope that with his hands and tools he could earn enough to live and to send home to his wife and family. Sixty years later grandpa’s tool chest lives with me. Read More …

Kezurou-kai USA is a diverse group of designers, builders, and makers with a deep interest in learning and perpetuating the practice of hand tool woodworking. Much of our inspiration comes from traditional Japanese woodworking, architecture, and construction. Today, Kezurou-kai USA works to support and promote this tradition of excellence by our efforts to introduce, train, and challenge interested individuals who want to make hand tools and techniques central to their work.

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Kezurou-kai USA is an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate against anyone based on race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, for its board of directors, staff, contractors, volunteers, providers or recipients of service, members, or any member of the public.

Kezuroukai USA is a non-profit educational organization: 501(3)(c) #47-5009584 Donations are tax-exempt.