About Japan Tool Journey
Life is, in a way, a way of passing time. Most days look familiar. And yet, from the tools in our hands, we can set out into another world. A different way of doing opens up a different way of seeing. Tools are affordances.
Japan Tool Journey is rooted in everyday life in Japan and in a long personal interest in craftsmanship, tools, and the cultures that surround them.
Over time, I came to feel that Japanese tools are meaningful not only because they work well, but because they reflect something deeper: care, maintenance, repetition, restraint, and respect for materials. They are part of a wider way of making and living.
This site is where I share that journey — through Japanese hand tools, sharpening culture, practical observations, and stories that connect objects to place, memory, and use.
about me?
Born and raised in Tokyo, now living in Hida Takayama, I came to tools and craft through the work of kominka renovation, a renovated inn, and furniture shaped by old materials and handwork. Through Japan Tool Journey, I hope to enjoy Japanese tools and culture together with people around the world — while continuing to learn along the way.
Accommodation in Hida Furukawa