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Save the date – October 25 & 26, 2025!

Kezurou-kai USA is excited to announce our annual National Event for 2025.

Save the date! Kezurou-kai USA is excited to announce our annual National Event for 2025. We will host Kez 2025 at El Cerrito Community Center in El Cerrito, CA on the weekend of October 25 & 26, 2025. While the program of events is actively being organized, we have secured our event space and wanted to make sure everyone has as much time as possible to make plans. Events, speakers, and topics will be announced when they are confirmed, but you can count on demonstrations and talks from our community’s experts.  In addition, experts will assist you with getting the most out of your own tools. There will be vendors throughout the weekend, and a planing competition on Sunday. We look forward to connecting with you there!

Training for Mud: Apprenticing Japan’s Plaster Craft

Mine has turned into a very unusual apprenticeship. When I returned in Spring of 2016, I thought I would be here for two years. My second year in, I realized I must stay on at least another three years to feel satisfied. It takes at least five years to gain solid competency around producing the right brown coat under any circumstances; that is, the layer before the thin finish, which must be applied as perfectly as the finish will be. And so, I found myself a visa – a three-year PhD program at Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT). Three days a week I train, three days a week I am at school. 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.

Learn more about our Mission, Vision and Values here.

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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.