Carve | Sobokuya Inc.

Handcraft preserves Japanese traditions

SpecialityCarve

The latest trend in construction is computer-controlled chopping, known as pre-cutting. The carpenter simply assembles the pre-cut timber as it arrives. We at Sobokuya want to keep the old construction traditions alive, the traditional Japanese way of building. We wish to preserve the sturdy and beautiful Japanese wood construction methods. "Sumitsuke" is the process of using ink to mark the parts to be carved. It may be hard for the uninitiated to even imagine what the building will look like when it's done. However, without preserving this ancient Japanese method, it would be impossible to restore shrines and temples or revive traditional Japanese houses.

A house
one wishes to live in

As well as making a comfortable home for our clients, a Sobokuya home is first and foremost about making a house that they want to live in. Therefore, the design must be considered down to the smallest detail. The architect communicates persistently with the carpenter to determine the structure of the house. The carpenters' work begins when they receive the blueprints. They work with the materials and consider the finishing touches. They carefully consider whether to use wooden joinery or metal nails for the assembly.

Measuring and
identifying the wood

The inking, which marks the spots for cutting, begins. This is the work of the master carpenter. It is not just a matter of marking. As you know, wood moves. The marking must be done with future distortion in mind. Taller timbers known as “Ogi” are used in places that must withstand loads from above, while timber known as “Megi” are used in places that must not sag, such as at the eaves, to take advantage of future warping. This is a difficult task even for a skilled craftsman.

“Sumitsuke”

The inking process, known as "Sumitsuke" is a show of the masterful skill of the carpenter. At the same time, it is a daunting task. For example if a pillar is incorrectly dimensioned and is too short, the columns will not be able to support the roof. If this is discovered after the building process has begun it becomes a major problem. The frame assembling process is usually completed in just one day. Once the roof is up to the ridgepole, the ridgepole raising ceremony is held. If a mistake is made, everything goes kaput, and the building process must start over.

Finally,
the carving process

The carpenters carve the timber following the directions of the chief carpenter. As a powerful weapon in the art of “Sumitsuke”, Sobokuya has several original rulers that are not found elsewhere. They are the patented gems of the master carpenter's devising. For example, say you want to cut a circular saw at a right angle to the ink. With a commercially available ruler, you must check that the blade is in precise contact with the ink before you start cutting. With this jigu (ruler), you can decide where you want to cut just by following the inked line. There is no need to check the precise position of the blade itself.