Get a first-hand experience of Hida master carpentry in a workshop at Japan House London in which participants use kumiko latticework techniques to craft a beautiful decorative wooden object.

Kumiko is a type of Japanese latticework in which strips of wood are fitted together without using any nails or glue to create decorative geometric patterns. The technique has been popular in the Hida region and throughout Japan since ancient times and is often used in the creation of shо̄ji, translucent partitions used in Japanese architecture.

During the small-group workshops, each participant can gain an understanding of the history and high-precision techniques of kumiko while assembling a beautiful coaster-sized kumiko decoration which can be taken home.

The workshops at Japan House are led by Kawakami Shingo, a woodworking craftsperson from Nissin Furniture Crafters, one of Takayama City’s leading furniture manufacturers.

The workshop is part of a programme of events surrounding the exhibition The Carpenters’ Line: Woodworking Heritage in Hida Takayama.