Japanese timber temples are often described as ancient. Yet many of them are so heavily rebuilt, they bring to mind the old joke about Grandad’s spade: the blade has been replaced twice, the handle three times, but it is still supposed to be the same spade.
In much the same way, the Japanese have not shared western values about conserving the original fabric of historic monuments, but have sought to perpetuate their authentic form and spirit through generations of rebuilding. The common ground lies in preserving the traditions of fine carpentry and joinery, which are revered skills in Japan. And respect for tradition in no way inhibits innovation: the best Japanese woodworkers remain astonishing talents.
Kintaro Yazawa is among the very finest makers of jointed wood. He admits he was not a stellar pupil, but found his calling as an artisan thanks to a hobby. Born in Tokyo in 1946, Yazawa began his working life as a salesman for an engineering company. The grind was “to entertain clients with drinking and eating almost every day. I could not find any meaning in such a life, and quit the company and married.”