Tiny House Japan; who knew?

The original link was sent to me by Chris Beneke. Thanks Chris. TINY HOUSE JAPAN: Some serious innovation at work. I do not read or speak Japanese so I’m at a loss over many details but the photos and videos exhibit a world of real innovation in design and construction. The builder, Haruhiko Tagami (製作担当　田上晴彦) […]

Japanese Pack Frame

And an interesting basket. Pack frames are nearly universal historically as most cultures encounter the drudgery of carrying heavy loads over long distances. I am always searching for historic images to delve into to look for inspiration. Here is a nifty pack frame from the early 20th century of a charcoal maker from Japan. The […]

Sawing Planks

Before powered saw mills, making lumber was much more labor intensive. Now I can flip a switch to crank up the band saw or table saw; or pull the cord to fire up the chainsaw for big work. It’s easy to forget how good we have it. Notice the sturdy little sawhorse holding up the […]

Ainu Art and Archaeology

Originally posted on The Heritage Trust:
Carved knife by Japanese artist Kaizawa Toru The Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures will be holding a Friends Event on Monday, 23 February 2015 from 6:00-7:30pm. The Event will be held at the Sainsbury Institute in Norwich, England and is entitled Ainu Art and Archaeology.…

A Master at Work

It is awe-inspiring to see a master of anything at work, making their creation seem almost effortless. Many thousands of hours, or even thousands of days, really show at a high level of work. This isn’t to say that repetitive tasks are always fulfilling or require lot’s of mental exercise but that is often the […]

Edo Archery

19th century archery set, one bow missing.

Surimono 1862

If I could ever look this cool… Woodblock print, British Museum. Click the image for more information.