Customer Reviews

The Complete Japanese Joinery

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book, in two parts, describes the incredible wooden joints used in traditional Japanese construction. A western woodworker might consider "joinery" to be dovetails, part of finish carpentry or fine woodworking. The joints shown here are far more elaborate, and are applied to construction framing.

The first half of this book describes the joints themselves. These elaborate connections aren't just a woodworker's showmanship, however. One joint may have different features that prevent side-slipping, prevent rotation, carry weight, and admit a key to keep the assembly from backing out. Another joint may connect a vertical, two aligned horizontals, and one or two more horizontals at right angles to the others. With a little practice, you may learn to read the purpose of each feature, and even create new joints for your unique needs.

The second half of this book is about framing, about using those joints for walls, floors, roofs, and second stories. It shows the all-wood joints at work. It also shows the Japanese genius at work, the skill that accepts the best of other worlds and makes it their own. All-wood construction serves only ritual or conservation needs these day. The authors show how traditional joints work with many kinds of metal fasteners. Classic artisanry is not a competitor to modern technique, it's a complement.

One appendix shows that this is not a book of Western carpentry. It summarizes the religious ceremony that blesses the construction project and is "intended as a memorial for the numerous plants, various insects, and small creatures that would be destroyed during building on the property." Reading that, I felt a real sense of loss at our developers' relative carelessness.

The book's line drawings are beautifully clear, but require careful reading. Whether or not you ever follow their directions, this book is a joy to view and an endless source of ideas for the woodworker.

//wiredweird

Wonderfully detailed diagrams make up the majority of this book, with a short first section describing Japanese woodworking tools and methods. A short section also describes the basic technique for fabricating some of the simpler joints, giving a good start for someone looking to try the more difficult ones. Not exactly a beginner's guide, but certainly an inspirational reference book!

This book is really neat--definitely worth $16. There are dozens and dozens of joints detailed but almost all of them are for framing buildings. Even so, these multitude of ideas presented can really start the creative process for furniture makers, like myself. In fact, this book provided a joint that solved a problem that I had dwelled on for months. Without this book, I never would have thought of this joint.

Most of the joints described are described well. But you will need to read the material carefully because some of the joints are quite complex. A lot of the joints are described with "drafting style" drawings--a front view, side view and top view. The book could benefit from more drawings that are in perspective.

The description of the use of Japanese tools is brief. In fact, if I were the publisher I'd delete "Japanese Tool Use" from the title because this book really doesn't focus much on tool use. Yeah, it's covered but there are other, more detailed texts n the topic.

At times, the text is awkward. If I recall correctly, this book was translated from Japanese, which likely accounts for the awkward phrases.

When i bought it, i was looking for a manual to learn some basic about making japanese joinery in small amatorial woodworking projects. I'm not a carpenter, i'm just an hobbist.

Every page of this book is a precious pearl of a deep knowledge, surrounded by Japanese philosophy as well.

If you are patient to read very carefully and then practise, you'll find a pleasant surprise: a good job made with less tiredness and an happy mind.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pics are black and white, but good. I've spent hours reading, and re-reading it. Good resource for carpenters who want to add something to their work or understanding. Also could be great for imaginitive furniture building.

I'm fascinated by art and lifestyle in Japan. I bought this one in the hope of getting good information about "how to"s in joining wood in a woodword project without using any metal parts (nails etc). For starters, all drawings are black and white so this may dissapoint some of you. But are very well done and the book has a very interesting introductory section about japanese woodworking tools that provide a lot of information and some less expected aspects of japanese woodworking like, for example, tradition (I expected that) and an entire philosophical system (I didn't expected that). Very interesting, a lot. However, it is quite complicated to follow drawings and I sometimes felt that a better 3D rendering of the cuts should be done in order to better understand japanese joinery techniques (which ARE very complicated). I would recommend the book in the first place as a very instructive reading (which it is) and less for actually doing something being guided by its instructional content. Anyway I'm glad I bought it because it gave me more insight into japanese traditional woodworking.

This is a late review for me as I purchased this book in 2006. I have lived in Japan for about two years. prior to that I did some work in remodeling and small buildings. I had training in the technology. So when I watched Japanese woodworkers building in a new suburb in southern japan, I was suprised to see more of a timber frame construction process using round timbers. The masters of joinery at work. I thought to myself how strange?

As I said two years ago I purchased this book on my quest to understand beauty and craftsmanship. I still use the phrase of the carpenters training manual to bring me to "reality" when I am involved in "More Power!", "More power tools!" It says find a place under a tree and set up your tools. When I read this I laughed heartily at myself. I had been a tool envious "Norm" follower for many years. He always has bigger and better, even when I was catching up!

This is about wood. Hand tools! Craftsmanship! And the heart of the samauri wood worker. These joints have evolved and at one time were secrets of the particular trade guild, only taught to people after long apprenticeships. Look at the joints! Get the spirit of working with the wood. Learn secrets of joining.

I liked this book so much that when it got lost in my piles, I bought another.

Marc Adams of the Marc Adams school uses a phrase he stole from someone. "See one, do one." It's the way of wood!

If you are interested in Japanese joinery, just about everything and anything you would want to know is here. The book discusses types of wood, the tools required and their use and care, and more styles of joints than I can count. There are 1-2 b/w photos of little value, and the numerous illustrations are all hand drawn with good detail. This is an essential book for anyone interested in the subject, along with "The Art of Japanese Joinery" by Kiyosi Seike.

Caveat Emptor: Japanese joinery is an incredibly difficult and high art, and unless you have significant wood working experience, and even then, it is no small task. Most people undergo long and challenging apprenticeships that are a major commitment before they become competant at the art. Special tools with special techniques are essential, as is special and expensive wood.

The author says the following about his training:

"In my case, the transmission was directly to me from my teacher, over a 5-year period, working 70-80 hours/week. I might add this was thought minimal, but enough to get the basics down. 15-years is thought necessary to become a temple carpenter, the equivalent of 30-years at 40-hours/week." Lenny Brackett of East Wind Inc told me his apprentices are an expense to him for at least the first 5-years, after which they begin to provide some use.

With that in mind, this is one of the best books on the subject and I highly recommend it.

Pretty incredible book. It is actually a combination of two books. I was more impressed with the first one. The second one started to get a bit hairy by the time you get to hip rafter assemblies. Errors exist from time to time adding to the confusion as one tries to figure out just what it is the author is trying to communicate. As you get further into the book, details are not referenced to anything. Details tend to get scattered about the page. Then you find yourself trying to figure out what detail goes to what and where? While I am fascinated by the details, I am also left wondering; how do these joints stay together. They become so complicated that I can't help but wonder; how many times one would craft a joint only to see it crack and fail? I recommend that anyone that wants to use any of these more complicated joints for structural connections to first consult with a structural engineer before proceeding on with any work or funds. All in All for the most part I was impressed and enjoyed the joint details in spite of this author's strange way of presenting the material.

Someone previously used "inspirational" to describe the book and I will agree with that.

I knew before purchasing that this book contains traditional japanese home construction joints and while interested in furniture and cabinetry...... I fiqured I might see some things I could put to use.....and after a couple of days reading the book I have.

Less than 20 bucks......if you are a woodworker...even if you dont make a lot of hand cut joints.....its still an interesting book to read.

I havent worked with wood in a couple of decades and am wanting to get back into it on a small scale......and being interested in joinery......hand cut joinery....I think it will be fun to reproduce some of these joints......or joints similar to these in some projects.....