Discover the history of woodworking in Hida by attending a series of carpentry demonstrations using sumi-nawa – the carpenters’ line – a fundamental carpentry tool in Japan used for marking straight lines on wood.
The carpenters’ line, or sumi-nawa (sometimes also referred to as sumi-tsubo), is the tool that plays an essential role at the start of a carpentry project. It is used to mark the measuring lines on wood, a process called sumitsuke. Based on these lines, a carpenter then proceeds to cut into the wood using such tools as saws or hammers and chisels. The cutting process named kizami requires great accuracy and precision to ensure the wooden elements fit perfectly together. During the demonstrations, Kose Hisanori, a nationally certified carpenter from the Takayama Wood Craftsmen Society, introduces Japanese wood joinery using the sumitsuke and kizami techniques.
Each event, led by Ushimaru Takehiko from the Takayama Board of Education’s Cultural Assets Division, offers an opportunity to better understand building techniques used in wooden architecture in Japan.
These demonstrations are part of a programme of events connected with the exhibition The Carpenters’ Line: Woodworking Heritage in Hida Takayama.