As the head of the Construction Department, I manage both the carpenters and the construction management team. Specifically, I handle tasks such as ordering building materials, assigning master carpenters and carpenters to different sites, and I also work on-site myself as a carpenter. Since I am also a company director, my role extends beyond carpentry to supporting the preparation of estimates and contributing to organizational development as part of the management team.

When I had just become an independent carpenter, the company I worked with received a request from SOBOKUYA: “We don’t have enough carpenters for this site, could you lend us one?” I went, and that was the beginning. At that time, SOBOKUYA didn’t have many employees, not even enough carpenters, and I heard they were overwhelmed with work. My father was a carpenter, and from a young age I reluctantly helped him. When using machines, he would say, “Give me a hand,” and by the fourth grade, I was often at job sites. Later, I entered a technical high school in architecture, worked at a lumber company, and became a carpenter. At first, I helped my father, but later I met another master and trained under him. Eventually, I became independent, and in 2022, I joined SOBOKUYA, where I work now.

Absolutely. I always felt that the precut method, which uses computer-controlled factory-processed wood, was dull—like assembling a plastic model kit. At SOBOKUYA, hand-carving takes center stage. Carpenters carefully observe the wood with their own eyes and refine its surfaces by hand. The decision of which side of the wood to showcase and where the timber will shine best is entrusted to the carpenter, and that’s where skill comes into play. Furthermore, SOBOKUYA directly employs carpenters. In Yamanashi and the Kanto region, it’s rare to see carpenters employed as full-time staff, and I found that aspect of organizational building very appealing.

Be thorough but also efficient; it’s fine to make work easier, but never cut corners. Efficiency makes work smoother, but slacking off leads to nothing good. I also make sure to communicate with the design team, striving for better results. Generally, carpenters just “build according to the blueprint,” but that’s passive. I look at the drawings and suggest, for example, “This area would be better with timber of these dimensions,” or “This part won’t work unless we use this kind of material.” In one case, a part originally designed as a standard beam was changed to a taiko-bari (drum beam), which transformed the atmosphere of the entire building. At SOBOKUYA, both design and site management staff work closely together, making communication easy and ensuring we never compromise on quality.

I usually teach *kizami* (carving) and similar tasks on-site, but I decided to create dedicated training sessions. For example, there’s a process called *sumitsuke* (ink marking), where carpenters draw guide lines on timber before carving, indicating where and how to cut. It’s a crucial step that greatly impacts the final quality of a building, but methods varied widely among carpenters. Some predetermined where to drill holes for joints, but if there was a large knot in that spot, the hole couldn’t be made. You need to closely examine the wood’s surface and adapt flexibly. By creating opportunities to learn together, we establish a shared quality standard, and as each person grows, I believe the company as a whole can perform at a higher level.

I’d like to build a temple. As a carpenter, I can’t help but admire the mastery of temple carpentry. Temples are entirely different from houses or shops, and I look up to that type of architecture. Japanese traditional architecture may look old-fashioned and analog, but its quality is outstanding even by global standards. I want to keep refining my skills and pass them down to the next generation.

It’s certain that there will be a shortage of craftsmen in the future. On the flip side, this means the trade will continue to grow in demand. Since SOBOKUYA is expanding overseas, those who wish can also gain international experience. Buildings held together by complex interlocking wooden joints are rare abroad. What we create is traditional Japanese architecture with deep historical roots. It’s not something one can master overnight, and it may involve hardships, but in return you can acquire world-class skills as a craftsman. Above all, the satisfaction and sense of fulfillment when a building is completed is truly one of a kind. The free and diverse company culture is another attraction. We’re also hiring new graduate carpenters and welcome foreign carpenters as well. As a director, I am committed to building a rewarding workplace environment.