Mokuchi Studio Episode 10: Yamamoto Kohei
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Jul 18, 2024 Yamamoto Kohei, a Japanese carpenter and founder of Soma Kousha, shares his passion for traditional woodworking and apprenticeships. He discusses the significance of hand-hewn techniques and natural materials, emphasizing their advantages over modern methods. Yamamoto recounts his transformative journey from rejection to a decade-long apprenticeship with a shrine-building company. He also reveals his joy in teaching and the philosophy that deep practice brings, aiming to inspire future generations of craftsmen.
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Commitment To Traditional Methods
- Yamamoto Kohei committed his company to traditional Japanese building methods because he found them more sensible through study and practice.
- He values minimally processed natural materials and traditional techniques for their lifecycle and fit with place.
Use Natural Materials Mostly
- Prioritize building with natural, minimally processed materials like wood, clay, stone, bamboo, and paper when possible.
- Accept modern necessities (kitchen, plumbing) but keep them minimal to preserve natural material use.
Lightning Strike Moment With Hewing
- Yamamoto first saw soma hewing at a small festival and felt 'lightning struck' by the old methods using broadaxes and huge saws.
- He bought tools on Yahoo Auctions and began practicing hewing with his ex-company's permission.
