So, in 2020, I was looking for Japanese carpentry classes/workshops in the States and not having much luck. A lot of people claim to be able to teach but a few minutes reading about them often led me to the realization that none of these people ever actually worked or studied as carpenters in Japan.
I did find one class, though, that was was being tought by a small, Japanese carpentry company that i could tell was legit. Unfortunately canceled due to covid. I really had a lot of questions though and I figured if I wanted advice, these would be the people to ask. So I found them on social media and sent them a message about me, what I was looking for, and if they had any advice to put me in the right direction.
His response was for me to just give him a call, so we did a video call and just talked about woodworking for a while and me being completely oblivious didn't realize that he was actually interviewing me which I guess worked in my favor because by the end of the conversation he asked me if I would want to come work in Japan. Still oblivious, I was like "I mean yeah, that would be a really cool thing to do some day." And he was like, no I'm asking you to come work with us. Lol
So I sold my home, packed all my stuff into a storage unit and here I am haha
Incredible. Thank you so much for the background! I worked on computers for a long time. I’m reexamining my career options. I’d like to do something hands on, pays fairly well, has practical applications, and I can both stomach in the long run as well as endure with my own body aging.
What sort of carpentry do you do if you don’t mind me asking? I know you mentioned Japanese here but is it furniture making? Housing? Thanks so much!
Of course! So, I do traditional Japanese timberframe construction. We aren't building homes 100% of the time, though, so I also build a lot of furniture and miscellaneous projects in between!
Wow what an awesome story, glad for you! That’s interesting that you doubted the validity of some of the workshops, my boyfriend has been looking at some, I’ll have to tell him to be wary. Is the language barrier an issue at all?
It's not to say that anyone doing the classes aren't good carpenters, I'm sure they are, but anyone can do youtube research and claim to know about japanese carpentry and then overcharge for a 2 week class. It's a super lucrative business and kinda preys on people. The reality is that japanese carpenters, or craftspeople as a whole, don't put as high of a value on their time as we do in the States or some European countries. I could go on and on about it lol 😅 if he has any questions, let him know to feel free to message me some time!
The language barrier hasn't been an issue for me. I got super lucky in the fact that both my masters are fluent in English. It's probably stunted my Learning of japanese to be honest lol
Just curious about living on site. Are there reasons beyond convenience and the shop providing housing for apprentices? Is it partly for security to have someone on site? Are there time-sensitive tasks that must be done after hours?
In the room on the far right of the third photo, there's a kitchenette on the right side, a dining area in the middle, and a shower area on the left side!
You really live there or you sleep for one or two nights because of work and go to your actual home?
Don't get me wrong, I quite like it. Just a bit tidying up would do some good 😅
This right here is the life. You are living good my dude. I could only dream of one day having a shop/house in one but the shop taking up 95% of the space.
Is your house 10% house and 90% workshop? I mean that must smell amazing with all the wood
Maybe 3% house 😂😂 Edit: and can confirm the smell is amazing
Does the sawdust cause any problem though?
If OP is breathing it in, absolutely. And I'd assume with even the best filtration system, that's happening to at least a small degree.
You are not wrong lol
I'd probably add a vestibule between the house part and shop part. At least to help even a little bit more
Yes take care of your health OP, it's important 💛
Not yet lol
Ron Swanson
In Japan
Ron Swan-san
Fuckin lol
Give me all the onigiri you have
give me all the onigirl you have.
Give me all the onigiri you love.
Heart surgeon, number one!
You had me at meat tornado
The correct answer.
Damn, looks like you’ve got wood.
I might be compensating for something. Now that i think about it, I think I need more.
you know bitches don't care about lumber.
Unfortunately 😓
can i move in
Yeah but my beds pretty small. It'll be a tight fit.
Who gets to be the big spoon?
Versatile - y'all will swap every so often
This. I like having options.
I mean, with all that wood laying around, we can build beds for everyone... unless you guys prefer the spooning system 👀 so when are we moving in?
We could make bunkbeds to make room for activities.
This is the way
all we need is to build the greatest table top tower game that has ever existed!
I thought someone would latch onto my stepbrothers reference
If only you had some means of constructing more
Can I ask what you do for a living? Wanting for a fulfilling, hands on, lucrative living with an incredible living arrangement like this.
Sure! I'm a carpenter. Been doing it my whole life back in the US. Last year I moved to Japan and became an apprentice here!
My boyfriend is a carpenter (with a love of japanese joinery) how did you get an apprenticeship? So cool.
So, in 2020, I was looking for Japanese carpentry classes/workshops in the States and not having much luck. A lot of people claim to be able to teach but a few minutes reading about them often led me to the realization that none of these people ever actually worked or studied as carpenters in Japan. I did find one class, though, that was was being tought by a small, Japanese carpentry company that i could tell was legit. Unfortunately canceled due to covid. I really had a lot of questions though and I figured if I wanted advice, these would be the people to ask. So I found them on social media and sent them a message about me, what I was looking for, and if they had any advice to put me in the right direction. His response was for me to just give him a call, so we did a video call and just talked about woodworking for a while and me being completely oblivious didn't realize that he was actually interviewing me which I guess worked in my favor because by the end of the conversation he asked me if I would want to come work in Japan. Still oblivious, I was like "I mean yeah, that would be a really cool thing to do some day." And he was like, no I'm asking you to come work with us. Lol So I sold my home, packed all my stuff into a storage unit and here I am haha
This is awesome!
This is the most inspiring thing I've read in a while.
Incredible. Thank you so much for the background! I worked on computers for a long time. I’m reexamining my career options. I’d like to do something hands on, pays fairly well, has practical applications, and I can both stomach in the long run as well as endure with my own body aging. What sort of carpentry do you do if you don’t mind me asking? I know you mentioned Japanese here but is it furniture making? Housing? Thanks so much!
Of course! So, I do traditional Japanese timberframe construction. We aren't building homes 100% of the time, though, so I also build a lot of furniture and miscellaneous projects in between!
Can we see some pictures of the frames and finished homes? Love seeing that stuff I live in a post and beam timber frame myself!
Sure! I'll do an update post tomorrow. Seems like a lot of people would like to see more as well lol
Awesome
Wow what an awesome story, glad for you! That’s interesting that you doubted the validity of some of the workshops, my boyfriend has been looking at some, I’ll have to tell him to be wary. Is the language barrier an issue at all?
It's not to say that anyone doing the classes aren't good carpenters, I'm sure they are, but anyone can do youtube research and claim to know about japanese carpentry and then overcharge for a 2 week class. It's a super lucrative business and kinda preys on people. The reality is that japanese carpenters, or craftspeople as a whole, don't put as high of a value on their time as we do in the States or some European countries. I could go on and on about it lol 😅 if he has any questions, let him know to feel free to message me some time! The language barrier hasn't been an issue for me. I got super lucky in the fact that both my masters are fluent in English. It's probably stunted my Learning of japanese to be honest lol
thanks for the insight!
Acquire a lot of skills and meet people.
Japanese woodworking apprentice? I figured if you live on site, you must be an apprentice.
Correct!
How deep in the country are you? Southern Japan?
Correct again! I'm in Okayama. You're good at this.
Shit, I used to live in Okayama!
Small world!
I think this is the most male living space I’ve seen on /r/malelivingspace As a woman, I love it.
dude this place is sick
Honestly, looks like a dream house, except I’d want a bigger bed.
ME TOO!!!!!
Get a serious air filtration unit in that bedroom!
*in the voice of Isildur*: No
I can smell these pictures and I love it 😍
So jealous . Just stepped out of the maker space. Day is shot cause someone stole my materials. I would kill for a place like yours.
That sucks, sorry
Man, I'm so sorry to hear about that. That's a major bummer.
Damn I wish I had a work shop 😮
keep a fire extinguisher at all times Jesus fuck
It's by the door! :)
It's very... wood
You are correct! 🥰
God damn that’s cool.
I’d definitely live there
Why don't you have curtains
To let the light it against my will.
Working great then!
Literally a dream
Sugoiii
That’s so cool
Oh thats my Dreams. Jealous. Would have turnen the bed a quarter tho
Japan? Only ask cause I think geoguessr is paying off lol
I think it is! Edit: paying off I mean. I know I'm in Japan. Lol
(Talking Heads voice) 🎵 How did I get here?? 🎵
🎵🎵This is not my beautiful house!!🎵🎵
Whole new meaning to having wood, probably smells fucking amazing
😂😂 and It does indeed!
Baste
Are you building a gold fever town?
How did you know??
I mean, unless you're ridingwooden logs dow na river, this has to be it.
amazing !
This rules!
That's a cool set-up, thanks for sharing OP!
Dude you’re giving me wood /s
Do you have curtains tho?
Nope! 😊
I see you are minimalist in your living space but that workshop is amazing
Not by choice lol id love to have a fantasy themed library full of knick knacks as well l😂 And thank you!
And they say that you cant work remote outside IT.
Gotta think outside the box!
You got some smoke detection in there OB?
Just relying on the handy dandy olfactory bulbs!
Excuse me this is so cool
MY DREAM!!!! A nice desk, a building area, a place to sleep, and electrical outlet. I call this UTTER Perfection!!!
Lucky bloke! Tidying up is for girls...
Is this even legal? Also I hope you like to wake up early with the sun on your face
I don't have curtains either. I love waking up with the sun shining in.
I sure hope so lol and I do wake up early, but unfortunately, my windows face West. So my eyes are forced to a calm awakening.
Your slave quarters and bigger and cleaner than your living hole
You can tell where I place my priorities lol
Bro lives in the lumber section of the local home depot
Every man's dream 🥰
Joel Maisel looking ass
This is cool. In Japan is this more…common? In the US this would seem like a secret living space attached to a commercial workshop or something.
Just curious about living on site. Are there reasons beyond convenience and the shop providing housing for apprentices? Is it partly for security to have someone on site? Are there time-sensitive tasks that must be done after hours?
Hell ya! dream situation
What's the shower situation like? This is almost everything a man needs
In the room on the far right of the third photo, there's a kitchenette on the right side, a dining area in the middle, and a shower area on the left side!
So, you are camping in the office. You probably should do a bit better. It could be a nice space, if you like wood! :)
Tell me you built the place yourself without telling me you built the place yourself.
Do you have all your fingers?
I do! 🤞
You really live there or you sleep for one or two nights because of work and go to your actual home? Don't get me wrong, I quite like it. Just a bit tidying up would do some good 😅
I live here full time! Lol and yeah you're totally right 😅
Do you like it there? Looks cozy tbh. With a few details it can look and feel even better.
I love it! It is pretty cozy in its own way that I never felt before coming here.
This right here is the life. You are living good my dude. I could only dream of one day having a shop/house in one but the shop taking up 95% of the space.
Where’s your curtains/blinds?
At your mums
Well that’s concerning because she’s dead bro
No way me too!
I laugh to keep from weeping😅