Replies

1. 
   pauld | Jun 03, 2003 04:27am | #1

   Eric,

   You might want to contact the nice folks at Hida Tools in Berkeley, California (the San Fransisco Bay area) - they have been very involved with the Kezourou-Kai, including the coordination of a trip by several highly-regarded Japanese woodworking masters to California last November.

   From what I've heard, the craftsmanship in the Japanese temples is outstanding, especially if you're a devotee of timberframing and intricate hand-cut joinery.

   Some of the visiting craftsmen with Kezourou-Kai were Mitsuo Naoi, a master temple builder who has been declared a living teasure in Japan; Yuji Funatsu (a 3rd generation chisel maker), and Kiyoshi Kimura, a legendary sharpening-stone maker in Kyoto. A visit to one of their workplaces would be worth the cost of the trip from what I've been told.

   Have fun!
   Paul

2. 
   Len | Jun 03, 2003 05:32pm | #2

   Hi Eric,

   I lived in Tokyo for about a year. There are a lot of museums to see. Way to many to see if your there only for a few weeks. I'll list a few places for you.

   I would recommend that you get out of town to an outdoor museum named Minka En. It is about a half an hour train ride from Shinjuku station.

   http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/sisetu_e/minka.htm

   It is a great place to see the old homes of Japan and they also have a collection of wood working tools. It's a day trip.

   Further out is a the city of Harkone. It is the location where they make all the inlay puzzle boxes. Wonderful place. Again a day trip.

   While your in Shinjuku there is a Sword Museum. While not wood working they have handouts (in english) that explain the process of the tempering of steel. There is a large shopping district in Shinjuku. I would recommend stopping in at a store, Tokyu Hands. The only 8 story department store that I have ever seen that has a lumber department and a tool department. You can easily spend $1000's of dollars there.

   Most hardware stores carry some of the most incredible tools. If you tell me where your staying I can give you some directions to some of them.

   Have fun.

   Len