Moving to Tokyo (if all goes well!)

[Luke Dupont]

If all goes as planned, I will most likely be working in Tokyo come the beginning of next year.

Which, I'm quite excited about. But...

It might put woodworking on hold for a while, as I'll be:

- Pretty poor for a while.
- Living in a small apartment where I have to be pretty careful about noise.
- Likely too busy to do much woodworking anyway.

But, if I know myself, I'll want to make something at some point / from time to time. Probably smaller items.

So, I'm kind of wondering what I should sell/leave here, and bring with me. And, I'm just sort of curious to hear about other's experiences.

I'm considering selling all of my western tools, as I'll not likely be able to use them. Any work that I do will be on the floor, as a bench is out of the question.

Also, another silly question, but: can one buy conveniently dimensioned and planed wood in dimensions for small crafts over there, as is readily available at the BORGs here in the states? Resawing boards is not something I'll likely be able to do.

[Stewie Simpson]

Luke; how old are you.

[Luke Dupont]

Luke; how old are you.

28. What is your reason for asking?

Hmm... I can see how my post might come off as jumping the gun, and might strike one as slightly immature in that sense.

I'm really just throwing this subject out there without any specific purpose to elicit interesting or informative responses regarding Japan, apartment living, and woodworking. I'll likely find myself with a hobby somewhat ill-suited to my environment, and I'll bet that I'm not the first.

Moreover, the community here seems overall rather personable, so I don't feel it inappropriate to mention that I'm moving somewhere. In fact, doing so is often a good way to locate people who share your interests.

So, maybe not the most well-thought out thread, but I hope that clarifies my intent in writing it?

[Frederick Skelly]

Wow. What a change - from relatively small-town Mississippi to Tokyo Japan, one of the largest cities on Earth! Good for you. That's going to be an adventure, for sure. There are at least a couple members who live there, or have in the past. So you should get some useful input on your woodworking.

Good luck Luke!
Fred

[Stanley Covington]

If all goes as planned, I will most likely be working in Tokyo come the beginning of next year.

Which, I'm quite excited about. But...

It might put woodworking on hold for a while, as I'll be:

- Pretty poor for a while.
- Living in a small apartment where I have to be pretty careful about noise.
- Likely too busy to do much woodworking anyway.

But, if I know myself, I'll want to make something at some point / from time to time. Probably smaller items.

So, I'm kind of wondering what I should sell/leave here, and bring with me. And, I'm just sort of curious to hear about other's experiences.

I'm considering selling all of my western tools, as I'll not likely be able to use them. Any work that I do will be on the floor, as a bench is out of the question.

Also, another silly question, but: can one buy conveniently dimensioned and planed wood in dimensions for small crafts over there, as is readily available at the BORGs here in the states? Resawing boards is not something I'll likely be able to do.

A somewhat vague question.....

If you are going to be living in a small apartment, any kind of banging will be a problem. One solution is to do carving, which requires no joint cutting.

You can buy boards from the equivalent of the Borg here. Depending on where you live, there may be lumberyards with construction grade wood. There is also a store called Moku Moku that has some very nice wood, but will you have a car? Probably not. Therefore, small pieces you can carry on the subway.

If you will be poor, then buying many tools here will be a problem. If you can afford to ship them over, then that is a better choice. Keaba saws are easy to get over here, so I suggest you leave your western saws at home, especially since you won't have a workbench or vise.

Stan

[Rich Riddle]

I lived in Japan for the military. The apartments are extremely tiny. You might try to find a "club" or something where you can visit to perform woodworking and share tools. We had them on base of course, but if you have not access to a base, it won't be for you. It is incredibly expensive there. Tokyo will be fine, but in some places they don't like Americans in the least. I recommend selling nearly everything or everything if you don't have much unless you have a place that offers free storage in the USA.

[Stanley Covington]

The Tokyo residents seem to have some valid complaints.

https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/protesters-rally-against-u-s-military-on-okinawa

I am impressed with your naivete, and disgusted with your violation of the forum's rules.

[Stewie Simpson]

Stanley, I have deleted the post, but do not suggest I am naïve on the facts.

Stewie;

[Luke Dupont]

A somewhat vague question.....

If you are going to be living in a small apartment, any kind of banging will be a problem. One solution is to do carving, which requires no joint cutting.

You can buy boards from the equivalent of the Borg here. Depending on where you live, there may be lumberyards with construction grade wood. There is also a store called Moku Moku that has some very nice wood, but will you have a car? Probably not. Therefore, small pieces you can carry on the subway.

If you will be poor, then buying many tools here will be a problem. If you can afford to ship them over, then that is a better choice. Keaba saws are easy to get over here, so I suggest you leave your western saws at home, especially since you won't have a workbench or vise.

Stan

I was also thinking about carving. I suppose paring is sufficient in that case?

You're right in that hitting a chisel is basically going to be off limits. I *was* thinking that I might get away with augering/drilling out waste and paring, if I want to do the occasional small project that (boxes and such) that might require joinery.

I don't suppose there's anywhere I could potentially work besides my apartment, is there? Perhaps a silly question, but.

The car thing is a very good point. And, strangely, one I had not really considered yet.

The plan isn't to stay poor, of course. But, that will definitely be my situation in the beginning. You make a good point, though - I don't want to go spending money on a hobby that might be very limited.

[Trevor Goodwin]

Luke, if you can't live without working wood, carving is the answer. I got started with whittling, which led to carving, when I was living in a shared building (not quite an apartment, but I could hear when my neighbors went to the toilet...). Once I moved into a place where I could make some noise I fell into the rabbit hole of woodworking, mind you I used to do a bit with my grandfather as a teenager. Unless you're working on 'sculptures' where mallet tools are the go, carving is pretty quiet. If you aren't interested in artsy stuff, consider the 'puzzle' type carving like chains and balls in cages, mechanisms, etc. There is also the realm of 'geometry' carving like this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Woodcarving-Magic-Transform-Single-Impossible/dp/1565235231

Unfortunately I don't see how you could do decent furniture type woodworking without much space and noise limitations.

[Luke Dupont]

Wow. What a change - from relatively small-town Mississippi to Tokyo Japan, one of the largest cities on Earth! Good for you. That's going to be an adventure, for sure. There are at least a couple members who live there, or have in the past. So you should get some useful input on your woodworking.

Good luck Luke!
Fred

Thanks!

Yep - I'm rather excited. I'm even going to be working in a Japanese language environment and doing something besides teaching English. So, a little intimidating as well ;)

I'm looking forward to improving my Japanese (and the many other "languages" I'll be using!)

Hoping to get some woodworking in as well, but if not, I have countless other hobbies :D

[Luke Dupont]

Luke, if you can't live without working wood, carving is the answer. I got started with whittling, which led to carving, when I was living in a shared building (not quite an apartment, but I could hear when my neighbors went to the toilet...). Once I moved into a place where I could make some noise I fell into the rabbit hole of woodworking, mind you I used to do a bit with my grandfather as a teenager. Unless you're working on 'sculptures' where mallet tools are the go, carving is pretty quiet. If you aren't interested in artsy stuff, consider the 'puzzle' type carving like chains and balls in cages, mechanisms, etc. There is also the realm of 'geometry' carving like this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Woodcarving-Magic-Transform-Single-Impossible/dp/1565235231

Unfortunately I don't see how you could do decent furniture type woodworking without much space and noise limitations.

Yeah, I don't plan for a minute to make any furniture.

That's awesome, though! I hadn't seen that sort of carving before. That's something I think I would probably enjoy.

[george wilson]

Luke,I do not know your reasons for moving to Japan,or the amount of money you will be making. But,I'll mention that the museum sent several craftsmen to Tokyo years ago to do a demonstration of the trades(for some reason!)

They went through their 2 weeks allotment for food in just a few days. I think one said that a small glass of orange juice was about $5.00. This was in the 80's. Unless you plan to eat LIKE THE JAPANESE, you may be in for a rude shock. I HEARTILY encourage you to stay here in the USA. This is the very best country in the World to live in.

[Luke Dupont]

Luke,I do not know your reasons for moving to Japan,or the amount of money you will be making. But,I'll mention that the museum sent several craftsmen to Tokyo years ago to do a demonstration of the trades(for some reason!)

They went through their 2 weeks allotment for food in just a few days. I think one said that a small glass of orange juice was about $5.00. This was in the 80's. Unless you plan to eat LIKE THE JAPANESE, you may be in for a rude shock. I HEARTILY encourage you to stay here in the USA. This is the very best country in the World to live in.

Believe me George, I love and appreciate the USA!

But, I'm quite familiar with Japanese culture, language, living expenses, and food, and know more or less what I'm getting into.

Food is really the least of my concerns though. I already eat rice as a staple (family from Louisiana!), and quite enjoy Japanese food. I'm sure there's somethings I'll miss, but I'm generally very adaptable and not so attached to / worried about small things.

That's quite a funny story, though. Food isn't that expensive in Japan, but there are definitely a lot of items/foods that while common here, are rare/imported, and highly priced in Japan. I think that's probably less the case than it was in the 80's, but it's still true.

Of course, the reverse is kind of true here when you go to an Asian Grocery store :P

[Matt Lau]

Luke, I think that us Neader-dudes are just looking out for you with good intentions.
At our different ages, we've all had our share of challenges and mishaps--it may color how we see things (and I'm 32, only a little older than you!).

Personally, I assume that you know what you're doing.
At 28, you've probably finished whatever formal schooling you set out to do.
You probably have a good reason for going to Japan (work, wife, etc).

1. In terms of the original question--what type of woodworking do you want to do?
2. What is your prior woodworking experience?
3. What are you doing in Japan?
If you're going for a degree at Todai for structural engineering, I'd defer to Stan's advice. If you're going for a medical residency, I'd recommend maybe just having a whittling knife at most. Things are very different in different contexts.

On a side note, I like Japanese woodworking because it's less reliant (in my limited knowledge) on big, expensive vises.
Yes, an ultra heavy workbench is best. However, the traditional Japanese ways generally have a very smart reason behind why they do things (pull saws, planes, short workbenches, etc). They are very sophisticated and flexible solutions, despite looking very simple.

If you want something satisfying and relatively not loud--have you thought of building guitars? :D
There is just two real joints--the headstock (if you do it, scarf/bridle/v joint) and the neck joint (a lot of guys just use a bolt on, but dovetails and spanish heels also work).
Most of the work will be planing the wood and shaping the braces.
Downside--wood can get expensive, especially in Tokyo.

Currently, I'm working on putting together a portable workbench/system based on Stan's "beer, tacos, woodworking" post.
I have a pair of hideahorses, and I'm putting a 40 mm tabletop on it. I'll be slotting a parrot-vise on one of the horses.

[Jim Koepke]

Is there any possibility of renting a garage or other work space?

jtk

[Luke Dupont]

Luke, I think that us Neader-dudes are just looking out for you with good intentions.
At our different ages, we've all had our share of challenges and mishaps--it may color how we see things (and I'm 32, only a little older than you!).

Personally, I assume that you know what you're doing.
At 28, you've probably finished whatever formal schooling you set out to do.
You probably have a good reason for going to Japan (work, wife, etc).

1. In terms of the original question--what type of woodworking do you want to do?
2. What is your prior woodworking experience?
3. What are you doing in Japan?
If you're going for a degree at Todai for structural engineering, I'd defer to Stan's advice. If you're going for a medical residency, I'd recommend maybe just having a whittling knife at most. Things are very different in different contexts.

On a side note, I like Japanese woodworking because it's less reliant (in my limited knowledge) on big, expensive vises.
Yes, an ultra heavy workbench is best. However, the traditional Japanese ways generally have a very smart reason behind why they do things (pull saws, planes, short workbenches, etc). They are very sophisticated and flexible solutions, despite looking very simple.

If you want something satisfying and relatively not loud--have you thought of building guitars? :D
There is just two real joints--the headstock (if you do it, scarf/bridle/v joint) and the neck joint (a lot of guys just use a bolt on, but dovetails and spanish heels also work).
Most of the work will be planing the wood and shaping the braces.
Downside--wood can get expensive, especially in Tokyo.

Currently, I'm working on putting together a portable workbench/system based on Stan's "beer, tacos, woodworking" post.
I have a pair of hideahorses, and I'm putting a 40 mm tabletop on it. I'll be slotting a parrot-vise on one of the horses.

Yes, I realize that they have good intentions, and appreciate it :)

Those are very good questions that I might have done well to answer/add context! I'll see if I can answer them:

1. Small things. I like detail work and shaping, and I like making functional things. I have little interest in furniture or large pieces.
2. Fitting in with point #1, I've mostly already been working in apartments (but with a little more leniency on noise than I will have in Japan), and making smallish, functional things. Some examples are: bow saws and other tools, training weapons for martial arts that I practice, traditional bows and arrows, and the occasional instrument (wooden ocarinas, bamboo flutes (not really woodworking, but), and even made a kan kara sanshin once. I also enjoy making spoons and such.
3. Programming.

Your suggestion regarding making guitars is kind of up my alley, actually. I've never attempted anything that complicated craftsmanship wise, and I don't know all that much about playing or making guitars specifically, but it sounds like something I could potentially get into if I find the time. I'm kind of curious where you would get wood thin enough for the body, though - as I said, resawing is likely out of the question as it would be fairly noisy.

I suppose I can make many of the smaller items that I've been making. I definitely make liberal use of the chisel mallet and chopping, though, even on things without joints, but that's something I can probably change.

[Bill White]

Luke, Mississippi is gonna miss your talents.
Good luck and best wishes.
Bill

[Matt Bainton]

Hey Luke, you should checkout this guy Barnaby (http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129825) I know from guitar building forums. He lives in a small apartment in Tokyo and took up building guitars and basses with only hand tools because of his apartment situation. Good work, but also inspiring for what one can get away with in small, quiet spaces. Might help your optimism for your options?

EDIT: I just read Matt Lau's post and it seems we were thinking the same thing.

[Pat Barry]

Also look into the links posted in Brian's most recnt thread. The stuff that is linked to is perfect for hand tool work in small spaces.

[Luke Dupont]

Hey Luke, you should checkout this guy Barnaby (http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129825) I know from guitar building forums. He lives in a small apartment in Tokyo and took up building guitars and basses with only hand tools because of his apartment situation. Good work, but also inspiring for what one can get away with in small, quiet spaces. Might help your optimism for your options?

EDIT: I just read Matt Lau's post and it seems we were thinking the same thing.

Wow. That's incredible work, and inspiring indeed!

Thanks for sharing! I might just sit down and read this thread.

[Art Mann]

I think that if you are going to reach out and do something new and different, the time to do it is while you are still relatively young. It gets harder and harder to change your situation as the years go by.

I do CNC router carving but I get some of my patterns from websites that promote "chip" carving. If you want to work with wood even in your new circumstances, that might be a good skill to investigate. You can do some beautiful things if you are good at it and it takes very little space or equipment.

[Karl Andersson]

Hi Luke,
I lived in greater Tokyo for 4 years back at the end of the 90's so things have likely changed somewhat - but finding wood for small projects wasn't much of a problem, although the board-foot price was pretty high. Aside from the one Stanley mentioned, there was also a store called Tokyu Hands, a multi-floor department store that had really cool hobby sections where you could buy carving tools, casting supplies, small boards, etc. My experience was that there were very serious hobbyists in Japan who were as intense, if not more, about tools and technique as the neanders, so if you keep your eyes open, you'll find people with similar interests who can help you. Certainly let your Japanese friends know what your interests are -in my experience, they were very eager to share experiences and interests.

As far as "used" tools go, I was able to find a few decent Japanese woodworking tools in their temple flea markets and second-hand stores, but they weren't common and most that I looked at came with a story of ancient bladesmiths forging it under a sacred volcano, etc. etc. so were out of my price range. I'd recommend you bring some tools once you settle on what you'll work on.

Since you're talking small and carving, maybe you'd like to try carving netsuke? They are fascinating and have a very strong following, so tools, and techniques should be accessible to you. I know I saw many in museums, and there are tons online, so you'd have examples to look at.

Have a great experience,
Karl

[Herv Peairs]

Luke, you've probably already seen this: http://www.startwoodworking.com/gallery/tiny-japanese-workshop

In the remote chance you haven't already scoured the internet looking for information on fitting workshops in tiny spaces, there are some interesting ideas out there regarding efficient storage, and so forth. As for noise, during my son's drum kit years I did some sound mitigation with door gaskets, cheap carpets on walls and doors, and similar measures. It made quite a surprising difference.

I also second the advice to do something new and different now while you have the freedom. Good luck!

Herv

[Matt Lau]

Luke, I don't see why you'd have any real problems.
Here's a few suggestions:

1. Get a parrot vise or panavise (you might find one at Tokyu hands). Mount on a small square of plywood. Clamp to a desk or a railing. This will be great for most small work. It'll also be fine for crafting a nice bokken or small sculpture with the use of a knife, spokeshave and/or kanna.
2. For guitar stuff, you're welcome to PM me to get my email. We can follow up from there. Generally, you really don't need a ton of stuff.
For the first few builds, I'd recommend a kit from Luthier's Merchantile or Stewmac. Most pro luthier's have their wood pre-thicknessed, and sometimes prebent too (not worth it imo due to springback). The most useful thing you'll find is a few sharp chisels (for bracing), a card scraper, and sandpaper.
Also, I know a few luthiers in Japan. One was an apprentice to Ervin Somogyi, and he's a pretty cool guy. Another guy is a flamenco builder that left Oakland with his Japanese girlfriend (it's actually cheaper for him to live in Japan). Another is a Japanese guy that loves a mix of ebonic and Texan culture (go figure). The younger Tokyo luthiers were pretty cool dudes. The older ones are very skilled.
Bring beer, and they'll accept you warmly.
3. Connect to Stan Covington.
Stan is a pretty busy man, but a wealth of knowledge. He's also a great guy, and knows the best blacksmiths. While pricey, his recommendations have been the very best tools that I've used. They blow away some much more expensive, more hyped makers.
Oh, and apparently he formally apprenticed under a Japanese carpenter, got into Todai University (pretty darn hard for a gaijin), and speaks perfectly unaccented Japanese.

I recommend getting a handful of tools of the best quality you can afford: a set of white steel chisels, one good 55-60 mm plane, some stones, a cheap marking guage (to start), disposable saws, maybe a kiridashi. Before I met Stan, I tried buying "bargains" off ebay and craigslist. Some were pretty good (about 10%), but many were fails. I've given/sold most of the stuff I didn't like.

The nice thing about Japan is the otaku culture.
Being Otaku doesn't mean that you have to dress up as some anime character.
However, it means that there's always an avenue to procure the highest grade of thing that you want--if you're willing to pay the cost.
In Mongolia, China, India--good luck finding Mastergrade European spruce tops or properly dried rosewood back and sides!
In Japan, you might find some acceptable wood at Tokyu hands...even stuff impossible to get in the states! Ask Stan.

[Trevor Goodwin]

Okay, not sure where Matt was going with the Otaku suggestion...

This video just popped up in my feed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS1Ck9z7sdE
This bloke does some pretty good woodworking tutorials, although I do cringe a bit at his "Masterclass" title and slogans.
Stay tuned Luke!

[Dan Kraakenes]

Just came back from Japan on Friday myself. We spent two weeks in Kobe, where I would absolutely recomend the Takenaka tool museum. The only tool museum in Japan, and I just happend to walk past it on my way to the Shinkansen station.

Beautifull building, hidden behind a wall and green plants. I spent close to six hours there on two occasions, just absorbing everything.


Here is a video, of what you can do, working on the floor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5pJxeT3rEo

[Matt Lau]

Tokyu Hands is great! I wish that we had something like that here in the US.

Personally, I'm inspired by a guy called Sen (in Singapore)- http://senguitar.blogspot.com/
Excellent work. I think he just uses hand tools (and mostly inexpensive ones) and a sheet of MDF for most of his work.
Like me, I think he lives with his parents.

I think that I'd recommend the following:
1. get one good western block plane. Probably much cheaper to get a lie nielson here than there.
2. get a good western spokeshave here (LV, LN, Boggs, etc). Western ones are different (not better, but different) than the Japanese.
3. Get a gunsmith/machinist vise after moving. It'll be slightly more expensive, but cheaper than freighting it over. I think a panavise/parrot vise might be great.
4. get some chisels/knives/etc over there. I find that the japanese do a GREAT job on edged tools. IMHO much nicer than our BORG tools in the states.
5. bring over the tools that make you happy. If it brings you joy, bring em. If not, sell them.
6. Find a fellow gaijin woodworking buddy. I can try to connect you to a few of my buddies if you want, but we're not too close (no pun intended).

Anyways, I'd love to see what you end up making over there!

[Stanley Covington]

Tokyu Hands is a fun store, that sells great stuff. But the tools they sell are very much in the Borg mold, and pricey as well. Professionals do not buy their tools there. TH will have some wood, and some of it may be useful. It will be expensive and quite limited.

I suggest you learn where the lumberyards (zaimokuya 材木屋) and meibokuya 銘木屋 are located in your neighborhood, and make friends with the owners. They often have some useful stuff they will sell you cheapish. If you buy enough, and they like your boyish grin, perhaps they will throw it into the back of their little truck and give you a lift home. Delivery costs are included in the price, normally. I suggest you procure a bicycle while you are here. Used ones are cheap. Great for hauling both your ass and wood. Get to know the softwoods of Japan. Akita sugi. Hinoki. Excellent woods and very fragrant. They demand sharp tools, but are pleasant to work and very addictive.

Meibokuya will have the exotic imported and domestic woods. It will be pricey, and you will need to buy entire boards. The other option is Moku Moku in Shinkiba which I mentioned before. Tremendous selection. Unsurpassed quality. Smaller sizes and quantities. Not cheap. But it is the best and most efficient place to get some woods.

If you decide to get into carving, I suggest you haunt the recycle shops and buy old wooden store signs kanban, which are often made of excellent keyaki. Also look for old goban (table for playing Go) which are solid chunks of Ho or Katsura. Excellent carving woods.

If you are artistic, you might consider the religious styles of figure carving. They don't have to be buddhist figures, but there is a deep tradition of beautiful carving that it would be impossible to see or learn from outside of Japan. How about a Shishi lion?

The last two pics below remind me of my high school math teacher.

If you decide to go the carving route, you will need a worktable of some sort. Traditionally, a thick board on very short legs is set on the floor, and you sit next to for working. Takes up almost no space, and can be leaned against the wall out of the way when you are not using it, or need to spread futons for bedtime.

For tools, the Pfiel swissmade carving tools are hard to beat, and very reasonably priced. If you the time and money, you might want to get a few carving tools made for you by Konobu while you are here. I will be happy to make the intros. You will need a couple of planes. A LN rabbet block plane is ideal IMO. And you will need a 60 ~ 65mm plane. Buy that here. Buy sharpening stones here, as well as a rip and crosscut kaeba saw. Buy a steel square here. Buy a couple of good quality kiridashi kogatana here. You should also bring or buy a hammer and few chisels for rough work. These you can take into the neighborhood park along with your workbench and a goza to sit on for a few hours and not worry about the noise. Just don't let the Moms get the idea that you are waving edged weapons around their kiddies.

All very quite, and portable, and inexpensive. After all, the real goal is to make sawdust and chips, right?

Stan

344415344416344417344418344419344420344421

[Brian Holcombe]

So cool! Beautiful work Stan!

[Stanley Covington]

So cool! Beautiful work Stan!

Thanks Brian, but I didn't make any of the items in the photos!

[Brian Holcombe]

Ah! well, it's beautiful all the same.

[Luke Dupont]

Sorry about the very late response. I wanted to comment on a few things, though!


Tokyu Hands is a fun store, that sells great stuff. But the tools they sell are very much in the Borg mold, and pricey as well. Professionals do not buy their tools there. TH will have some wood, and some of it may be useful. It will be expensive and quite limited.

I suggest you learn where the lumberyards (zaimokuya 材木屋) and meibokuya 銘木屋 are located in your neighborhood, and make friends with the owners. They often have some useful stuff they will sell you cheapish. If you buy enough, and they like your boyish grin, perhaps they will throw it into the back of their little truck and give you a lift home. Delivery costs are included in the price, normally. I suggest you procure a bicycle while you are here. Used ones are cheap. Great for hauling both your ass and wood. Get to know the softwoods of Japan. Akita sugi. Hinoki. Excellent woods and very fragrant. They demand sharp tools, but are pleasant to work and very addictive.


Thanks! Actually, I love working with softwoods, so I'm very keen on trying Japanese varieties.
Besides whatever tools I decide to bring over, I think I will follow your and other's advice here and stick with a few high quality tools -- especially in regards to a nice Kanna or two.




Meibokuya will have the exotic imported and domestic woods. It will be pricey, and you will need to buy entire boards. The other option is Moku Moku in Shinkiba which I mentioned before. Tremendous selection. Unsurpassed quality. Smaller sizes and quantities. Not cheap. But it is the best and most efficient place to get some woods.

If you decide to get into carving, I suggest you haunt the recycle shops and buy old wooden store signs kanban, which are often made of excellent keyaki. Also look for old goban (table for playing Go) which are solid chunks of Ho or Katsura. Excellent carving woods.

If you are artistic, you might consider the religious styles of figure carving. They don't have to be buddhist figures, but there is a deep tradition of beautiful carving that it would be impossible to see or learn from outside of Japan. How about a Shishi lion?

The last two pics below remind me of my high school math teacher.


Those are some great tips -- especially on the kanban! And I hadn't thought of traditional Japanese carving. Also a great idea. The examples you posted are incredible.




For tools, the Pfiel swissmade carving tools are hard to beat, and very reasonably priced. If you the time and money, you might want to get a few carving tools made for you by Konobu while you are here. I will be happy to make the intros. You will need a couple of planes. A LN rabbet block plane is ideal IMO. And you will need a 60 ~ 65mm plane. Buy that here. Buy sharpening stones here, as well as a rip and crosscut kaeba saw. Buy a steel square here. Buy a couple of good quality kiridashi kogatana here. You should also bring or buy a hammer and few chisels for rough work. These you can take into the neighborhood park along with your workbench and a goza to sit on for a few hours and not worry about the noise. Just don't let the Moms get the idea that you are waving edged weapons around their kiddies.


I will be bringing my favorite oil-stones -- definitely my Pike Washita, and a nice hard/translucent Arkansas, and maybe an India stone for any shaping or grinding I may need to do. I tend to prefer natural stones, but I don't think I'll be able to afford J-Nats any time soon. I'm not so fond of synthetic waterstones.

Any problems with sharpening stones in your carry-on luggage, by the way? I wouldn't trust my vintage Washita or Translucent Arkansas to the insanely rough treatment of, and chance that I'll lose entirely, my checked luggage. But I also don't want them getting confiscated by some overly paranoid TSA officer or such, as they're somehow vaguely related to sharp things. I would like to bring them with me on my person, as I can use them in the kitchen and elsewhere even before I have any tools shipped over / find time for woodworking.

On that same line of thought, I wanted to ask you about working in the park! I found that statement a little surprising, because I know that Japanese laws and perceptions can be very strict / suspicious regarding sharp things on your person in public. Have you ever had problems with people reacting to your tools, or officers stopping to question you? Any tips on being as inconspicuous as possible? That said, if I can work in the park, that would be great and allow me to do any rough chisel work that might be necessary.


Edit: A bit off topic, but I just noticed one of my friends share this story regarding Toukyuu hands: http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1609/30/news124.html
Maybe I'll stick to cash when doing business with them ;)

[Stanley Covington]

Sorry about the very late response. I wanted to comment on a few things, though!



Thanks! Actually, I love working with softwoods, so I'm very keen on trying Japanese varieties.
Besides whatever tools I decide to bring over, I think I will follow your and other's advice here and stick with a few high quality tools -- especially in regards to a nice Kanna or two.




Those are some great tips -- especially on the kanban! And I hadn't thought of traditional Japanese carving. Also a great idea. The examples you posted are incredible.




I will be bringing my favorite oil-stones -- definitely my Pike Washita, and a nice hard/translucent Arkansas, and maybe an India stone for any shaping or grinding I may need to do. I tend to prefer natural stones, but I don't think I'll be able to afford J-Nats any time soon. I'm not so fond of synthetic waterstones.

Any problems with sharpening stones in your carry-on luggage, by the way? I wouldn't trust my vintage Washita or Translucent Arkansas to the insanely rough treatment of, and chance that I'll lose entirely, my checked luggage. But I also don't want them getting confiscated by some overly paranoid TSA officer or such, as they're somehow vaguely related to sharp things. I would like to bring them with me on my person, as I can use them in the kitchen and elsewhere even before I have any tools shipped over / find time for woodworking.

On that same line of thought, I wanted to ask you about working in the park! I found that statement a little surprising, because I know that Japanese laws and perceptions can be very strict / suspicious regarding sharp things on your person in public. Have you ever had problems with people reacting to your tools, or officers stopping to question you? Any tips on being as inconspicuous as possible? That said, if I can work in the park, that would be great and allow me to do any rough chisel work that might be necessary.


Edit: A bit off topic, but I just noticed one of my friends share this story regarding Toukyuu hands: http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1609/30/news124.html
Maybe I'll stick to cash when doing business with them ;)

I have never tried to take a sharpening stone onto carry-on luggage. I suspect the thinner novaculite stones would not be a problem so long as you called them "polishing bars," if questioned instead of "sharpening stones," but the bigger stones might be seen as blunt weapons.

Working in the park will depend very much on the type of park and the neighborhood you live in. There are a lot of small, sandy parks tucked into neighborhoods intended for kids to play in and old folks to relax. During school hours, these are mostly empty. If you can find a quiet corner away from kids and foot traffic, face away from the moms, smile as you work (don't look scary or too intense), and avoid spreading out too much (moms will be concerned about toddlers stepping on tools), it should be OK. Also, don't leave any chips or shavings behind. If you have a child or wife, bringing them to the park will go a long way to making you more acceptable to the moms. But if there are a bunch of moms that don't like foreigners, or are hyper sensitive about tools close to kids, they may shut you down.

This approach will not work in the big high-traffic public parks patrolled by the police. It is not against the law, but they will shut you down just on principle. Don't mess with the Japanese police, and always quickly agree with them. They are very honest, intelligent, polite and helpful guys, but they can be touchy if they feel challenged by bigger gaijin men, and if one gets on their bad side, batons will appear, backup will swarm in on white bicycles, and later back at the station, introductions will be made with rubber hoses. I kid you not. Japan has a very low crime rate for good reason.

Cash is standard in Japan. There has been a big increase in hacking and credit card fraud in Japan the last 10 years or so, mostly by Chinese grifters. If you use your America-based credit cards, there will probably be a foreign transaction fee charged by your credit card company.

If you speak Japanese, it should not be difficult to find someone that teaches carving classes. That's what I would do. I can ask Konobu for some names if you are interested. Most of his carving tools are made for the University art professors, and they will know the best private teachers.

Stan

[Luke Dupont]

I have never tried to take a sharpening stone onto carry-on luggage. I suspect the thinner novaculite stones would not be a problem so long as you called them "polishing bars," if questioned instead of "sharpening stones," but the bigger stones might be seen as blunt weapons.

The translucent I have is quite thin, but the Washita is about 1"x2"x7" -- or a little smaller.
I have given some thought as to what to call them. Maybe just "natural novaculite stones" followed by "for finely polishing metal surfaces" if pressed further.
I have read several accounts of people bringing stones on planes without problems, but better safe than sorry.



Working in the park will depend very much on the type of park and the neighborhood you live in. There are a lot of small, sandy parks tucked into neighborhoods intended for kids to play in and old folks to relax. During school hours, these are mostly empty. If you can find a quiet corner away from kids and foot traffic, face away from the moms, smile as you work (don't look scary or too intense), and avoid spreading out too much (moms will be concerned about toddlers stepping on tools), it should be OK. Also, don't leave any chips or shavings behind. If you have a child or wife, bringing them to the park will go a long way to making you more acceptable to the moms. But if there are a bunch of moms that don't like foreigners, or are hyper sensitive about tools close to kids, they may shut you down.

This approach will not work in the big high-traffic public parks patrolled by the police. It is not against the law, but they will shut you down just on principle. Don't mess with the Japanese police, and always quickly agree with them. They are very honest, intelligent, polite and helpful guys, but they can be touchy if they feel challenged by bigger gaijin men, and if one gets on their bad side, batons will appear, backup will swarm in on white bicycles, and later back at the station, introductions will be made with rubber hoses. I kid you not. Japan has a very low crime rate for good reason.


Okay. That's kind of what I figured; clean up after yourself, and find a place that is quiet and not well-traveled. I am kind of wondering if I will be able to find such places in the middle of Tokyo, though? I'll be in Meguro-ku, specifically.
I'm very cooperative and respectful in general, and neither large nor intimidating, so I'll think I'll be alright with regards to the police, but that's very prudent advise. The only thing I was worried about is them potentially over reacting and arresting me on the spot for having what might perceived as some kind of weapon, as might happen even in certain cities here in the U.S. Tokyo is a pretty urban city, after all. People have certainly been arrested for less in places such as New York.



Cash is standard in Japan. There has been a big increase in hacking and credit card fraud in Japan the last 10 years or so, mostly by Chinese grifters. If you use your America-based credit cards, there will probably be a foreign transaction fee charged by your credit card company.


Right. I was jesting really because of the nature of the article. I found it kind of funny coincidence that it came up in my facebook feed as soon as I learned of Tokyu hands.
I actually use cash primarily, even here in the states. It's much easier to keep track of how much you're spending that way, I feel.



If you speak Japanese, it should not be difficult to find someone that teaches carving classes. That's what I would do. I can ask Konobu for some names if you are interested. Most of his carving tools are made for the University art professors, and they will know the best private teachers.

Stan

Thanks! Yes, I was thinking that must be something that you would need to learn directly from someone. I may actually take you up on that at some point, but I'll hold off until I have the time to commit. I'm sure it will take me some time to get settled in.

[Stanley Covington]

I am sure there are a few neighborhood parks of the sort I mean in the Meguro area. I live in Nerima-ku, which is not quite as crowded as Meguro, but with some luck you will find a good place.

The thing that causes the problem is young men carrying knives and box cutters on their person. In the same way that mentally unstable idiots tend to run people down or shoot them in the US and Europe, in Japan they have repeatedly cut and killed total strangers walking down the sidewalk. Double-edge dagger-style knives are especially problematic as a result of the Akihabara incident. Only very short bladed knives can be carried around in public. But this rule does not apply to tools carried for the express purpose of transporting to or from work, so long as they are not carried like weapons, i.e. hidden in a pocket or tucked into a shirt. Planes are not an issue, but you would be wise to keep your chisels and carving knives in a rollup stored inside a toolbox or tool bag while in transit. You might want to consider making a Japanese-style wooden toolbox for this purpose. This will make it easier to carry on the back of a bicycle, is perfect for working off a goza outside, and since it is traditional, will give you the appearance of a serious craftsman.

Stan

[Luke Dupont]

You might want to consider making a Japanese-style wooden toolbox for this purpose. This will make it easier to carry on the back of a bicycle, is perfect for working off a goza outside, and since it is traditional, will give you the appearance of a serious craftsman.

Stan

Do you mean using the top of the tool box as a work surface of sorts? I was going to ask about work holding. Of course, there are planing boards but I doubt I would want to haul one of those around in most cases.

[Stanley Covington]

Do you mean using the top of the tool box as a work surface of sorts? I was going to ask about work holding. Of course, there are planing boards but I doubt I would want to haul one of those around in most cases.

The toolbox can indeed be used as a sawhorse and work surface of sorts, but it won't endure too much pounding.

You will need a workbench of some sort. I recommend a 2~3" thick piece of hardwood. The width and length depend on the work you will do, your budget, and the means you have to carry it. Probably 10" wide is minimum, and 2' long would be enough for carving. You need the extra length so you can use a butt clamp or posterior sandbag. Mount a strip of wood underside each end to act as legs. You want it to be high enough so you can plane without hitting your knees.

You will also need to install some stops on one end for planing. But maybe not if you will not be doing any planing.

You can secure the piece you are carving with C clamps, or with lag bolts screwed through underneath. An nice alternative is to drill it for dogs and use the Veritas Bench Stud http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=59756&cat=1,43838 or holddownhttp://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=64685&cat=1,43838,43847&ap=1

You may want a couple of small sawhorses too.

This is how I suggest working. It is similar to what I saw craftsmen doing in Japan when I first came here in 1976, and is what I did when working on jobsites. Sometimes in parking lots, sometimes in the Wasatch mountains, and frequently in customer's houses or place of business.

Spread your goza or piece of carpet in the shade. Park your bike between you and the playground equipment as a barrier to kids. Put your toolbox behind where you will sit. Place the lid upside down to your right. The lid now becomes a surface to place your chisels. Planes should hook onto the edge of the open toolbox. Store wood and things you do not access as much on your left.

I always used an zabuton cushion with a flour sack cover to sit on (back when flour was sold in fabric bags).

Bring a battery powered radio to listen to Armed Forces Radio or your iPod. Don't forget a thermos bottle of wet stuff.

This kit is too much to carry around in your hands, but will all fit nicely onto the back of a bike rack.

Life is good, except for the mosquitos, but there are a few of those where you live now, I suspect. Katori senko mosquito coils will keep away most of those honest politicians.

Stan