This course serves as an introduction to traditional Japanese joinery, as well as an introduction to hand tool woodworking in general. Over the course of five days we will cover a range of topics and pursue the ideal compression fit joinery that the Japanese tradition is so famous for. This course will include setting up chisels, sharpening, layout for joinery, use of a Japanese saw, and cutout and assembly of a series of practice joints in furniture-scale pieces of wood. We will begin with the setup and sharpening of a Japanese chisel. A chisel with a truly flat back and bevel will have the sharpest possible cutting edge and is essential to cutting quality joinery by hand. A solid sharpening technique is the foundation for a lifetime of hand tool woodworking. A unique feature of much Japanese woodworking is the use of a central reference line instead of an edge of the piece. We will learn how to use a center line and the Japanese carpenter’s square to draw precise layout on material of any shape. Special attention will be paid to the uses and advantages of Japanese hand saws for efficiently cutting joinery. The ryoba, or two-sided saw, is particularly versatile and can accomplish any sawing operation we might need. Finally, we will focus on strategies for adjusting the fit between different parts of our joinery. With a sashigane and a keen eye it is possible to identify high points and problem spots. Required Tools: Personal protective equipment Pencil Paper or notepad Close-toed shoes Fine tip pen Sashigane (shaku preferred, inches/mm ok) 210mm or 240mm ryoba saw 400g hammer 9mm and 24mm bench chisels Sharpening stones - 1000 and 8000 grit Dish tray for stones Flattening plate Prerequisites Bring enthusiasm and an open mind. This class is designed for complete novices up through experienced woodworkers who would like to tune up their skills.