Japanese joinery is a traditional form of carpentry that utilizes intricate connections in order to connect members of a project using only the wooden members themselves. To a western carpenter, joinery would probably only be considered fine carpentry or for finishes, but some research about Japanese joinery reveals that it is a complex art form.
A first look highlights the types of joints and connections. Each of these connections serves a specific purpose and although their complexity might make them seem unnecessary for the role they fill, each connection has been tweaked over the years to perform a specific necessary function in the structure. In addition, each of the connections fits together like a puzzle to help give the structure its strength and sturdiness.
Making these connections necessitates a large array of special tools. The special cuts and connections involved in Japanese joinery would probably seem to be created with complex power tools, but in reality each tool looks relatively simple and there is no electric power involved whatsoever. In the same way that the connections each play a specific role, each tool is used for a specific aspect of the process of creation.
Although Japanese joinery techniques are not used as often in modern times, the care and expertise in this art form are easy to admire. The shear beauty of the buildings created with these methods also helps, along with the interesting cultural and religious significance that Japanese joinery once had.
Unfortunately, learning even more about Japanese joinery through joinery jobs in Japan isn’t much of an option. It would be a lot of fun to learn Japanese joinery by doing. The best option is probably to just dive into the different reading material available to us. There are some great books related to this subject and some searches for videos and pictures will give good visual examples of what this art form produces.
It may not be easy to believe how strong the connections used in Japanese joinery are, but many of the buildings that utilize this art form will be standing after our homes have deteriorated.