The Somakosha School
The Japanese Tradition Taught By Professionals
Founded in 2012, Somakosha is a traditional Japanese carpentry firm based in Okayama, Japan. We are an active construction company with projects both in Japan and around the world. Over the years, we have received many requests for lessons and apprenticeships. This overwhelming interest has led us to start a school in order to reach those looking to pursue either a professional or an amateur exploration of the Japanese tradition. Come learn Japan’s wood working tradition from the masters themselves - one step at a time!
杣耕社は2012年に岡山を拠点に活動する工務店として設立されました。現在では日本国内と海外に活動範囲を広げています。数年に渡りたくさんの弟子の受け入れと大工技術講座の開催をたくさんの方々からお問い合わせいただいています。日本の伝統構法についての皆さまの熱い思いが、我々を大工学校の開催へと導きました。ぜひ日本にいらしてください。皆で日本の大工技術について少しずつ学びましょう！
“The Future of Tradition, Worldwide”
Meet Your Instructors
-
Kohei Yamamoto
FOUNDER, SOMAKOSHA
1st Class Licensed Architect | 1st Class Licensed Carpenter
Before founding Somakosha, Kohei worked on many famous temples and shrines - including the Grand Shrine at Izumo, one of only two Grand Shrines in Japan. He is one of the first carpenters to re-introduce the traditional Ishibatate style of construction to the modern era. -
Jonathan Stollenmeyer
PARTNER & DIRECTOR, SOMAKOSHA
BS.Arch, DAAP, University of CincinattiBefore becoming a partner at Somakosha, Jon apprenticed at Nakamura Sotoji Komuten. This world-renowned Kyoto carpentry firm specializes in Tea-House Architecture. He has worked on renovations of the teahouse at the Grand Shrine at Ise. He also has experience with high profile luxury residential and ryokan projects in Japan and abroad.
-
Jon Billing
GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Founder of Big Sand Woodworking
Jon is a highly skilled furniture maker and also the founder of Big Sand Woodworking. His studio based in Ibaraki, designs and makes custom furniture for clients within Japan and abroad. He frequently collaborates with Somakosha on their residential projects.
-
Kyle Holzhueter, PhD
GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Founder of Permaculture Center Kamimomi
Kyle works as a builder, researcher and educator specializing in natural building materials and sustainable systems such as light rice husk lime insulation, natural plasters and energy efficiency. He is a graduate of the Kyoto Plastering Institute and the first westerner in Japan to pass the highest level Japanese National Plastering Exam. He also has a PhD in Bioresource Sciences from Nihon University where he researched the hygrothermal environment of straw bale walls and building practices to control moisture. In 2017 Kyle founded Permaculture Center Kamimomi, a Permaculture demonstration and education site in Okayama, Japan. -
Zac Vinson
GUEST INSTRUCTOR
Carpenter at Somakosha
Zac comes from a line of carpenters in Tennessee. He started learning carpentry from the age of 7 and began his professional woodworking career after turning 18. Before joining Somakosha as a carpenter, Zac ran a successful woodworking company for over 7 years. He has since then worked together with Somakosha on residential and temple restoration projects.