The Foundation Course is the core of our entire program and every following course is built directly upon the principles, methods, and habits established here.

Open to all experience levels, the course introduces skills essential for traditional Japanese carpentry: tool preparation, sharpening, center-line layout, and precision hand tool control. For beginners, it establishes strong fundamentals from the start. For experienced woodworkers, it offers a distinct approach to accuracy, workflow, and joinery rooted in Japanese tradition.

Because these methods form the basis of all later courses, students who complete Foundation consistently move forward with greater confidence, speed, and precision. For this reason, unless you already have some experience with Japanese carpentry and know how to set up and maintain Japanese hand tools, we highly recommend this be your first step. Especially if you wish to get the most out of our other courses.

Course Outline:

• Lectures on traditional Japanese carpentry:

  1. Timber framing history in Japan and Ishibatate design principles

  2. Day trip to a selected carpentry-related site or event (Locations vary by course, weather, and season)

• In-depth introduction to core Japanese woodworking tools and techniques:

  1. Ryoba Saw 240mm

  2. Dozuki Crosscut Saw

  3. Bench Chisels 3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 15mm (Oire Nomi)

  4. 150 momme Hammer (Genno)

  5. Square 15cm x 30cm, 25cm x 50cm (metric) (Sashigane)

  6. Sharpening Stones

  7. Ink Line Marking Gauge (Kebiki)

• Blade sharpening methods using water stones

• Laying out using traditional center-line methods with ink and sashigane

• Hand tool practice through the cutting of essential joinery (using saws and chisels)

• Individual Project: Joinery Tree - This is a sculptural form that contains all of the most common joints needed to construct an Ishibatate home.