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Japanese Woodworking Madness: A Three-Way Wood Joint

Imagine cutting this thing out by hand

By Rain Noe - October 13, 2015

in Materials | Object Culture

Shinobu Kobayashi is a Japanese woodworker based in Australia, currently studying Scandinavian techniques in Sweden. The three-continent background appears to have done him well; working in concert with a master cabinetmaker from Denmark, Kobayashi managed to cut this crazy three-way woodworking joint:

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According to Kobayashi, this "not popular Japanese joint" is called kawai tsugite and was invented by a Japanese professor at Tokyo University.

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I couldn't figure out how the darn thing works--but Matthias Wandel, who didn't even know what the joint was called, managed to figure it out only by watching the video above! Here he explains it, and reconstructs it:

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It's not surprising what happens at the end, but I think the joint is intended to be a mental/crafting exercise more than a practical technique.

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Adney Ansley

8 years ago

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Technique was really fantastic!!!

Loved the Japanese Products like Bowls, Dishes and Sushi Plates. I brought it from miyacompany.com when I visited last year.

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litle saw

8 years ago

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Wow..very strong joint..but dificult to make
Thank you

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Ken K

9 years ago

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Equally entertaining is the joint in the top-center of Kobayashi's video: dovetails on multiple faces. Most people won't even register its weirdness, but woodcrafty people will suddenly stop with the thought, "Wait a minute, something's not right. Hey, wait, that's impossible, isn't it??" It's an old trick, but still a good one.

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Juan Cano

9 years ago

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Question; do you think Shinobu Kobayashi built the join the same way using the milling machine? It seems that japanese craftsmen use only handsaws.

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- Rain Noe
  
  Juan Cano
  
  9 years ago
  
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  No way he used a pantorouter, I'm willing to bet the guy marked, sawed and chiseled.
  
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