Schedule & Presenters List for the 2025 Kezuroukai USA National Event
Schedule subject to change, and will be updated as we get more information from presenters.
ONGOING DEMONSTRATIONS ARE LISTED BELOW THE TIMED SCHEDULES.
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 24 at 9pm Pacific Time (Midnight Eastern Time). Be sure to register before the deadline so you don’t miss out!
Click here to download a printable PDF of the schedule.
Both Saturday and Sunday stations will be set up to assist all skill levels in: sharpening, layout, shoji, joinery, saws, chisel, planes and more.
Saturday’s presentations will run from 9:20-5:00, breaking for lunch at 11:40.
Sunday’s presentations will run from 9:20 until we break for lunch at 11:30. Planing competition starts at 4:00 on Sunday!
Kez Saturday after party! With such a busy day Saturday we wanted to have some time to socialize! Stick around after 5:00 for pizza and drinks. (You can pay for pizza on the registration page or in CASH at check-in).
Presenters
Click on the presenter’s name, topic or the + to see their bio and a synopsis of their topic.
Saturday Presentations
Introduction to Japanese Hand Tools and Their Use
Over the years have I done many demos about Japanese woodworking tools and how to use them and this is one of my takeaways; for any dedicated woodworker, the mechanics of how to use the tools well and skillfully is within reach. It takes dedication and lots of practice, but that’s true for every skill. I like sharing the little tricks I’ve learned that make the job easier and quicker, and I do that in the demos. But I also like to share a way a thinking about the tools, a conceptual approach to learning that includes exploration and discovery.
The tools have evolved over time and it’s interesting to think about why and how the changes were made. Are the tools in their final form or are there still modifications possible that would improve them? So the demo will include a discussion of the mechanics and use of the woodworking tools and lots of questions.
Mike Laine
I was introduced to Japanese woodworking tools in the summer of 1977. Makoto Imai was doing a Japanese tool and layout demo at Len Bracket’s place in N. San Juan, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and I went and it changed my life. I’ve been using the tools ever since and I’ve worked on a lot of Japanese style architecture projects here in the Bay Area and beyond. More importantly, I’ve worked with many other woodworkers who use Japanese tools and who have developed their skills to a very high standard. We all learn from each other.
Virtues of the Humble Kannaban
Exploring the value of this fundamental tool. A look at sharpening including resetting a problem blade.
Dale Brotherton, Builder, Designer, Consultant, and Teacher; TAKUMI COMPANY
Dale began working in his field in 1978. He spent 6-1/2 years in traditional full time apprenticeship with a well-known Japanese teahouse carpenter in the San Francisco Bay Area. This apprenticeship was dedicated to concentrated practice with traditional hand tools and learning refined joinery methods. Dale then spent 2 years as a “journeyman” in traditional residential construction in Nagano-Ken, Japan expanding his skills, studying building design and structural layout. For the past 38 years as a builder based in Seattle he’s undertaken hundreds of projects ranging from detailed interior finishing, to furniture, to whole house construction, along with garden structures located in private and public gardens. As designer and consultant, his expertise in authentic Japanese Architectural Woodworking helps project teams achieve extraordinary results. Devoted to integrating this ancient craft into the culture of the Pacific Northwest, Dale also teaches classes annually at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking and often makes presentations at Japanese cultural festivals and woodworking venues in the Seattle area.
Find out more at: japanesecarpentry.com
Letting the Roots of Joinery Bloom
Joinery is the composition of interlocking shapes and patterns. Learning how to compose and make these basic fundamental shapes let the roots of joinery bloom into a wide variety and range of applications. These solutions can be applied and used in joinery construction of any scale.
Explore the primary sources and how they can come together to extend each unique function into new combinations for different strengths and possibilities-
- discover the qualities defining their traditions shapes and technical uses-
- learn to work from the inside out- become more clear about fabrication processes and wood grain conditions
- *insights cut like a sharp edge
- recognize the simple functional values -so they can grow into other things that work in different ways
- build self confidence with fundamental objectives +with other ways of seeing and thinking about these hard facts
*Knowledge only really grows by doing the actual work without the past-the future is all guess work
- basic concepts and procedures of lay out and visualization
- +defining common areas -center line -appropriate proportions
- +5 reductive processes with nomi and ryoba
- +over view of fundamental configurations- m&t- lap and bridle joinery
- variations of housed lap joints & bridle type splicing
- dovetail adaptations- housed, tapered and splined and other odds and ends
Jan van Arsdale
Jay van Arsdale apprenticed early on in his family’s blacksmith shop in Kentucky. After graduating from Centre College in nearby Danville, Ky, Jay came to the SF Bay Area where he received an MFA in sculpture from Mills College in Oakland, CA in 1972.
Things came into focus in the mid-1970’s after seeing a demonstration by Japanese daiku Makoto Imai, who Jay learned from for a number of years.
Jay has worked and taught in the Bay area since the early 80’s. He has given demos/lectures and other presentations for many organizations including the Japan Society, San Francisco Asian Art Museum, the Exploratorium, Academy of Science, UC Berkeley School of Architecture, North American Timberframers Guild West Coast Conferences and numerous national wood working shows.
Jay is also the author of Shoji–How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens, (Kodansha, ‘86), Introduction to Japanese Woodworking (video,’ 87) , and contributing editor on The Complete Japanese Joinery, (Cloudpress ‘89). He also has written numerous magazine articles, produced multiple instructional videos, and appeared on TV in Japan and the U.S.
Jim Blauvelt, Dave Burnard and John Burt will be presenting on the forging process used to create Japanese woodworking tools. We’ll bring lots of sample pieces: hammers, knives, plane blades, chisels, saws, etc and the tools used to make them. Forge demonstrations will focus on hammer making, from forge welding steel faces on a wrought iron body, to creating the eye of a hammer. We’ll have plenty of time for answering questions, and will bring a few projects that participants can work on during the event.
Giboshi Bridge at the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL
Photos and description of work to complete the Giboshi Bridge at the Anderson Japanese Gardens.
David Sipos
Minka-Woodworks Inc, was established in 2004 in Ojai, California.
Owner Dávid Sipos has studied furniture making and expanded his knowledge on Japanese carpentry by working with several Japanese carpenters throughout the US and completing numerous timber frame (post and beam) structures, bridges, gates.
His work can be seen in several states including Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Maine and New Hampshire in public places and private gardens, residences.
“My main focus is on educating the public about the everlasting beauty of Japanese architecture and building structures from sustainably harvested timbers, recycled materials using the traditional joinery and tools.
Restoration projects are under way at several private and public gardens throughout the US. Over the last decade we have completed full restoration projects at the Anderson Japanese gardens in Rockford, IL. The installation of the new railing for the Giboshi bridge was completed in 2024.
Our latest installation was at the Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum in San Diego, CA where we previously have completed 3 bridges and built a 12”x12’ Azumaya, a viewing pavilion this year.
Pizza Get-Together on Saturday at 5pm after the day’s event, at the Community Center. $20. registration page or in CASH at check-in.
Bring Your Own Drink.
Sunday Presentations
Planing without cut steps
The process of fine tuning a plane to smoothly tackle wide boards. (Anyone is welcome to bring their plane and sharpening setup for practice.)
Dale Brotherton, Builder, Designer, Consultant, and Teacher; TAKUMI COMPANY
Dale began working in his field in 1978. He spent 6-1/2 years in traditional full time apprenticeship with a well-known Japanese teahouse carpenter in the San Francisco Bay Area. This apprenticeship was dedicated to concentrated practice with traditional hand tools and learning refined joinery methods. Dale then spent 2 years as a “journeyman” in traditional residential construction in Nagano-Ken, Japan expanding his skills, studying building design and structural layout. For the past 38 years as a builder based in Seattle he’s undertaken hundreds of projects ranging from detailed interior finishing, to furniture, to whole house construction, along with garden structures located in private and public gardens. As designer and consultant, his expertise in authentic Japanese Architectural Woodworking helps project teams achieve extraordinary results. Devoted to integrating this ancient craft into the culture of the Pacific Northwest, Dale also teaches classes annually at the Port Townsend School of Woodworking and often makes presentations at Japanese cultural festivals and woodworking venues in the Seattle area.
Find out more at: japanesecarpentry.com
This is a friendly Competition to test handplaning skills. The thinnest full length and width shaving wins. Sign up to compete or just enjoy the show!
Saturday On-Going Demonstrations/Activities
Hewing
The demonstration will focus on the use of masakari, Japanese hewing axe. In addition, the use of the carpenter’s axe, chona/adze and yariganna/spear plane will be explained and demonstrated.
We will go over the two main approaches to hewing as well as how to read logs and layout for hewing. People will be offered a chance to try for themselves the tools and methods.
If you have a hewing tool or two or three, please bring them along and let’s put them to use. If your hewing tools are not working well, all the more reason to bring them. We can sharpen them and tweak their set up.
Yann Giguère
Giguère has been a professional woodworker since 1991 and founded Mokuchi Studio in 2008. His training began with Western woodworking in Fairfield, Iowa. He quickly found inspiration in the Japanese woodworking traditions and hand tools. In 1999, he focused on Japanese techniques by entering a 9-year apprenticeship at the Takumi Company in Seattle with acclaimed woodworker Dale Brotherton. Giguère’s work is unique in the Japanese techniques used for complex joinery and elegant hand-finishing. His design and build experience includes entire timber frame homes, interior features ranging from stairs and shojis to cabinetry, garden structures, and furniture. He is a passionate educator on Japanese tools and techniques.
Website: mokuchiwoodworking.com
Instagram @mokuchistudio
Timber Framing
This year we will be continuing the hands-on work on the demonstration structure that we started at the Fall 2023 El Cerrito event. That year we assembled the main roof framework including round log joinery. This year we’ll be adding the ridge beam, rafters, and blocking. Lucas Benjamin will be leading the cutout of the “hafu” or barge rafter boards. Bring your tools and jump in!
Toby Hargreaves
Toby currently runs Bonny Doon Timberframes in the Santa Cruz Mountain area, working with local materials and traditional methods. He joined the board of directors in 2021.
Yariganna Demonstration
The yariganna, sometimes called the spear plane, is the predecessor of the hiraganna, or block plane, widely used today. Traditionally, yariganna were used during the final smoothing process for wooden building materials. Logs were split, then hewn, then adzed, and finally smoothed with the yariganna. Nowadays, the yariganna is not so commonly used in the course of most work. Nevertheless, many carpenters treasure the yariganna and work hard to maintain the skills needed to sharpen and use the tool. These days, when the yariganna is put into service, it is used to impart a subtle rippled texture to the surface of a finished piece of wood.
At this year’s Kezurou-Kai USA event, Jason will have his collection of yariganna tuned up and ready to use. There will be a variety of wood species to test this tool out on and explore the beautiful and subtle textures the yariganna makes possible to achieve. Interested attendees will be invited to try it out for themselves and also to combine the surface texture created by the yariganna with a shou sugi ban (scorched wood) finish.
Jason Forster
Jason started his woodworking career as an apprentice to Oakland daiku Jay van Arsdale, building over 70 bonsai display benches for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Prior to becoming a woodworker, Jason was a postdoctoral fellow in materials science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in soft matter physics from Yale University, where he researched the structural color of bird feathers. He holds several patents related to thermoelectricity and nanoscience.
Prior to his nomination to the board, Jason has been an active member of Kezurou-kai USA since he attended his first meeting in 2015. Since then, he has participated as a presenter and competitor at every national event. He spends his Saturdays working as adjunct faculty alongside Jay at Laney College in Oakland teaching one of the only programs in Japanese woodworking and hand tools offered at the college level anywhere in the world.
In 2018, Jason and another Bay Area carpenter completed the installation of an original-design machiai in the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He continues to work as a carpenter with Hermitage Woodworks in Richmond, CA.
Jason joined the Board of Directors in 2021.
Japanese Finger Planes – Chibbi Kanna
I will demonstrate the making of a Japanese style finger plane, and the special techniques used to make it. I will talk about how to select wood for the dai (or block), how to select appropriate blade angles, the geometry of the dai, and how to layout and cut the dai. Importantly I will show how to prepare the special blade stock that is commonly used in these planes. If time allows I will show how to layout and cut a dai for a compass plane, a hollow or round plane, and a spoon bottom plane, and shape the blade.
Scott Wynn
I am a professional woodworker and have been using Japanese planes professionally since 1974. In 1983 I was taught the technique of making Japanese planes and chibbi-kanna by an apprentice of Master Japanese woodworker Kenkichi Kuroda son of National Treasure Tatsuaki Kuroda. This apprentice was Howard Lazzarini, who had traveled from Japan with another member of Kuroda’s workshop to teach a seminar on making planes for your own use. I have been making them as needed ever since.
Over the years I have made about 25 Japanese planes in a wide variety of sizes; from 10mm blades to 75mm blades, as needed for use in my own work; and have set up, and/or modified around 70 Japanese planes that I use in my own work.
I have written 5 books on handplanes including “Discovering Japanese Handplanes”.
The Humble Saw Horse – “Build one pair by hand and use them until you retire.”
The humble saw horse is an essential tool in every carpenter’s kit. They are good for in the shop or out in the field. Either place you want them. Elevated, so you’re not working in the dirt. Many shapes and sizes that make for better ergonomics. The foundation that helps build every project. Apprentices make them to hone their skills. Journeyman critique them to asses a beginners skill set. Making a pair, by hand, teaches the basic fundamentals of carpentry. 20yrs later, you realize, I’m still using that pair I built as an apprentice.
“Build one pair by hand and use them until you retire.”
Eric Baker
Eric Baker is a seed planter. A lifetime carpenter whose goal is to cover California in Japanese hand tool fundamentals. And in the process, create space for bigger things to happen. Eric is a founding member and director of Hida Tool School, a monthly, grassroots introduction, to the beautiful world of hand tools.
Sunday On-Going Demonstrations/Activities
Hewing
The demonstration will focus on the use of masakari, Japanese hewing axe. In addition, the use of the carpenter’s axe, chona/adze and yariganna/spear plane will be explained and demonstrated.
We will go over the two main approaches to hewing as well as how to read logs and layout for hewing.
People will be offered a chance to try for themselves the tools and methods.
If you have a hewing tool or two or three, please bring them along and let’s put them to use.
If your hewing tools are not working well, all the more reason to bring them. We can sharpen them and tweak their set up.
Yann Giguère
Giguère has been a professional woodworker since 1991 and founded Mokuchi Studio in 2008. His training began with Western woodworking in Fairfield, Iowa. He quickly found inspiration in the Japanese woodworking traditions and hand tools. In 1999, he focused on Japanese techniques by entering a 9-year apprenticeship at the Takumi Company in Seattle with acclaimed woodworker Dale Brotherton. Giguère’s work is unique in the Japanese techniques used for complex joinery and elegant hand-finishing. His design and build experience includes entire timber frame homes, interior features ranging from stairs and shojis to cabinetry, garden structures, and furniture. He is a passionate educator on Japanese tools and techniques.
Website: mokuchiwoodworking.com
Instagram @mokuchistudio
Timber Framing
This year we will be continuing the hands-on work on the demonstration structure that we started at the Fall 2023 El Cerrito event. That year we assembled the main roof framework including round log joinery. This year we’ll be adding the ridge beam, rafters, and blocking. Lucas Benjamin will be leading the cutout of the “hafu” or barge rafter boards. Bring your tools and jump in!
Toby Hargreaves
Toby currently runs Bonny Doon Timberframes in the Santa Cruz Mountain area, working with local materials and traditional methods. He joined the board of directors in 2021.
Yariganna Demonstration
The yariganna, sometimes called the spear plane, is the predecessor of the hiraganna, or block plane, widely used today. Traditionally, yariganna were used during the final smoothing process for wooden building materials. Logs were split, then hewn, then adzed, and finally smoothed with the yariganna. Nowadays, the yariganna is not so commonly used in the course of most work. Nevertheless, many carpenters treasure the yariganna and work hard to maintain the skills needed to sharpen and use the tool. These days, when the yariganna is put into service, it is used to impart a subtle rippled texture to the surface of a finished piece of wood.
At this year’s Kezurou-Kai USA event, Jason will have his collection of yariganna tuned up and ready to use. There will be a variety of wood species to test this tool out on and explore the beautiful and subtle textures the yariganna makes possible to achieve. Interested attendees will be invited to try it out for themselves and also to combine the surface texture created by the yariganna with a shou sugi ban (scorched wood) finish.
Jason Forster
Jason started his woodworking career as an apprentice to Oakland daiku Jay van Arsdale, building over 70 bonsai display benches for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Prior to becoming a woodworker, Jason was a postdoctoral fellow in materials science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in soft matter physics from Yale University, where he researched the structural color of bird feathers. He holds several patents related to thermoelectricity and nanoscience.
Prior to his nomination to the board, Jason has been an active member of Kezurou-kai USA since he attended his first meeting in 2015. Since then, he has participated as a presenter and competitor at every national event. He spends his Saturdays working as adjunct faculty alongside Jay at Laney College in Oakland teaching one of the only programs in Japanese woodworking and hand tools offered at the college level anywhere in the world.
In 2018, Jason and another Bay Area carpenter completed the installation of an original-design machiai in the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He continues to work as a carpenter with Hermitage Woodworks in Richmond, CA.
Jason joined the Board of Directors in 2021.
Yariganna Demonstration
The yariganna, sometimes called the spear plane, is the predecessor of the hiraganna, or block plane, widely used today. Traditionally, yariganna were used during the final smoothing process for wooden building materials. Logs were split, then hewn, then adzed, and finally smoothed with the yariganna. Nowadays, the yariganna is not so commonly used in the course of most work. Nevertheless, many carpenters treasure the yariganna and work hard to maintain the skills needed to sharpen and use the tool. These days, when the yariganna is put into service, it is used to impart a subtle rippled texture to the surface of a finished piece of wood.
At this year’s Kezurou-Kai USA event, Jason will have his collection of yariganna tuned up and ready to use. There will be a variety of wood species to test this tool out on and explore the beautiful and subtle textures the yariganna makes possible to achieve. Interested attendees will be invited to try it out for themselves and also to combine the surface texture created by the yariganna with a shou sugi ban (scorched wood) finish.
Jason Forster
Jason started his woodworking career as an apprentice to Oakland daiku Jay van Arsdale, building over 70 bonsai display benches for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. Prior to becoming a woodworker, Jason was a postdoctoral fellow in materials science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He holds a Ph.D. in soft matter physics from Yale University, where he researched the structural color of bird feathers. He holds several patents related to thermoelectricity and nanoscience.
Prior to his nomination to the board, Jason has been an active member of Kezurou-kai USA since he attended his first meeting in 2015. Since then, he has participated as a presenter and competitor at every national event. He spends his Saturdays working as adjunct faculty alongside Jay at Laney College in Oakland teaching one of the only programs in Japanese woodworking and hand tools offered at the college level anywhere in the world.
In 2018, Jason and another Bay Area carpenter completed the installation of an original-design machiai in the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He continues to work as a carpenter with Hermitage Woodworks in Richmond, CA.
Jason joined the Board of Directors in 2021.
Japanese Finger Planes – Chibbi Kanna
I will demonstrate the making of a Japanese style finger plane, and the special techniques used to make it. I will talk about how to select wood for the dai (or block), how to select appropriate blade angles, the geometry of the dai, and how to layout and cut the dai. Importantly I will show how to prepare the special blade stock that is commonly used in these planes. If time allows I will show how to layout and cut a dai for a compass plane, a hollow or round plane, and a spoon bottom plane, and shape the blade.
Scott Wynn
I am a professional woodworker and have been using Japanese planes professionally since 1974. In 1983 I was taught the technique of making Japanese planes and chibbi-kanna by an apprentice of Master Japanese woodworker Kenkichi Kuroda son of National Treasure Tatsuaki Kuroda. This apprentice was Howard Lazzarini, who had traveled from Japan with another member of Kuroda’s workshop to teach a seminar on making planes for your own use. I have been making them as needed ever since.
Over the years I have made about 25 Japanese planes in a wide variety of sizes; from 10mm blades to 75mm blades, as needed for use in my own work; and have set up, and/or modified around 70 Japanese planes that I use in my own work.
I have written 5 books on handplanes including “Discovering Japanese Handplanes”.
The Humble Saw Horse – “Build one pair by hand and use them until you retire.”
The humble saw horse is an essential tool in every carpenter’s kit. They are good for in the shop or out in the field. Either place you want them. Elevated, so you’re not working in the dirt. Many shapes and sizes that make for better ergonomics. The foundation that helps build every project. Apprentices make them to hone their skills. Journeyman critique them to asses a beginners skill set. Making a pair, by hand, teaches the basic fundamentals of carpentry. 20yrs later, you realize, I’m still using that pair I built as an apprentice.
“Build one pair by hand and use them until you retire.”
Eric Baker
Eric Baker is a seed planter. A lifetime carpenter whose goal is to cover California in Japanese hand tool fundamentals. And in the process, create space for bigger things to happen. Eric is a founding member and director of Hida Tool School, a monthly, grassroots introduction, to the beautiful world of hand tools.