Highly Skilled Craftsman - The Finishing Details on a Japanese Timber Frame House

Japanese House No. 2 - Timber Frame Construction Series - "Finishing Touches" - October 2021
In this video, we return to the Murakami House and meet with some of the other craftsman who help to bring the finishing design details to this house.
There are a lot of traditional details that have been added since we built the frame of this house. In the past 3 months, the carpenters at Fujimoto Traditional Carpentry Company worked tirelessly adding the interior and exterior finishes which included insulation, electrical, plumbing, flooring, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen fixtures. However, in this video we meet with other craftsman that have added their high skilled and labor intensive touches.
We see a new earthen floor made from pounding dirt or local soil until it's hard and smooth. This forms the entry way to the house. Later we talk with a craftsman that has been working with his team to add the doors and partitions through out. We also talk with a tatami mat manufacturer who built several tatami mats the old way. A skill that is becoming lost as we continue to modernize.
House Information:
Land Area: ~436.18 sq. meters (~132 tsubo) (~4695 sq. feet)
Building Area: ~105.29 sq. meters (~32 tsubo) (~1133 sq. feet)
Total Living Area: ~134.66 sq. meters (~41 tsubo) (~1450 sq. feet)
1st Floor Area: ~92.54 sq. meters (~28 tsubo) (~996 sq. feet)
2nd Floor Area: ~42.12 sq. meters (~12.74 tsubo) (~453 sq. feet)
Special Thanks to:
Fujimoto Traditional Carpentry Company (ryofujimoto.com/)
Instagram: @ftc5610 @ryo5610
#woodworking #japanesewoodworking #carpentrylife
Videographers and Editing:
Kaori / Garrett
Equipment Used:
Olympus OMD EM-1 Mark iii (4k)
Sony ZV Log Camera (4k)
Apple iPhone 10 (4k)
Rode VideoMic NTG (Audio)
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[@stefr13]

You know the carpenter is at the highest level when he wears gloves not to protect his hands but to protect the wood.

[@zukiw1546]

Thank you for creating these videos, I'm Japanese but can't goto japan right now due to financial reasons, your videos allow me to feel I'm there.

[@Timothylaing]

The true sign of quality is taking the time to do something really well that no one will see.

[@gianluca6758]

Scrivo dall'Italia. Personalmente amo le costruzioni con struttura in legno nello stile giapponese. Linee essenziali, pulite, ma che osservando attentamente nascondono una tecnica lavorativa che non è solo il meglio dell'artigianato giapponese in tecnica di carpenteria, permettetemi di usare il termine di "arte". Ho comperato dei libri sulle tecniche di costruzione giapponesi in legno che mi hanno permesso di ammirare meglio questa tecnica di costruzione. Osservo gli ambienti, gli spazi, i colori dei legni e mi danno la sensazione di pace. Peccato non poter percepire il profumo emanato dal legno. Complimenti, siete artisti!!! Saluti dall'Italia 🇮🇪👍🇯🇵

[@groundspeed3954]

Incredible example of artistry, skill and craftsmanship.

[@RogierYou]

The pride and care for their craft and other craftsman ❤

[@osakar]

今まで建築業以外にも人の家に上がる仕事をしてきて、金持ちから庶民の家まで数えきれない程他人の家に上がってきたけど、ここまでの家は見た事ないな。今ではプレカットばかりで腕のある大工でも中々こんな仕事をする機会もないのに幸運ですね。

[@wendellwitt856]

Master craftsman creating beauty and function. Thank you for sharing.

[@MrLee-qz3gy]

Japanese traditional houses are so cool.❤🇯🇵

[@raytheron]

What an absolute work of art!

[@NealeOBrien]

What a beautiful thing!! I love it!

[@ps603]

It has turned out so beautiful.

[@mattski1979]

Dude i like the little roof overhang. The staggeredness is compelling

[@Peekingduck]

Love your videos. So inspirational and interesting. Thanks for sharing them.

[@jorgearenascortes7677]

I wish to have that chance to design and breath a space like this... Thanks for sharing!!!

[@양한진-z1w]

I'm glad to see you back uploading!

[@sandornemeth9323]

Perfeckt, Made by Japan!

[@transatlant1c]

So much amazing work, but those tatami mats were exquisite

[@KamikazeeNYC]

So Beautiful

[@rowanwhite3520]

Wow, such a gorgeous house!!!

[@TokyoSilver]

Great video! 意義深い動画ありがとう　楽しみました /// 参考になりました　Love & Crete!

[@srimom519]

Nice and beautiful house.

[@villeveikko1]

Cedar is an antibacterial wood, its good for other uses as well, not only decorative use. You can use it like the copper handels ja door frames because it prevents bacteria to grow on it

[@defenda1]

Some beautiful details, like at 3:29... is this just a recess for your fingers to grab onto? So artfully done.

[@thecarpentrylife]

Yes, you are right. Beautiful work tho.

[@jwt1035]

Great videos. I love the explanations for why and how things are done. How much did this house cost to build?

[@shan6021]

Tatami master has an American tool belt. Lol

[@claudestuder4199]

The house is beautiful. The roof looks very intricately done. If you don't mind my asking, what materials were used? It's difficult to tell from the footage alone.

[@thecarpentrylife]

Thank you for watching. The wood used was a combination of Hinoki (Japanese Cypress) and Sugi (Japanese Cedar). It is common for Hinoki to be used in areas where the wood will be visible as it has a nicer quality and natural finish. It is also commonly used for foundation work as it is a better would versus Sugi. However, it is not uncommon for houses to be made of entirely one or the other wood. It depends on where you live and your access to what is most prevalent. Sugi and Hinoki are both readily available. Other wood can be Matsu (Japanese Pine) and Hiba (another Japanese Cypress). Matsu and Hiba were not used in this house. If they were it was not used for any of the structure or foundation.

[@claudestuder4199]

@@thecarpentrylife Thanks so much for the info.

[@dnf_tapatio6169]

If you don’t mind could you estimate how much it would cost for all of this? If it’s private I understand. Love the vids 🤟🏼

[@dnf_tapatio6169]

The whole build. From beginning to end.

[@thecarpentrylife]

Hi. I couldn't tell you the total cost as it will probably be inaccurate. For the build itself with materials and labor it was around $500k. Keep in mind the interior and selected design features were higher than standard with better tatami mats, textured walls, reclaimed and restored front door, and other amenities. This house was designed by an architect who specialized in combining different elements from Japanese history. From the carpenter's viewpoint it was a very difficult build due to the complexity of the joinery and the size of the beams and pillars. It is a sturdy house that will stand the test of time for sure. In later videos, I will try to add more financial information, but keep in mind the cost of wood and materials has significantly changed since this build. Inflation, wood shock, and global conflicts are having a trickle down affect in this industry. In short, I would estimate that this total package was pushing $500k. Hope this helps. Take care.

[@dnf_tapatio6169]

@@thecarpentrylife yes it did thanks 🤙🏽

[@thisoldjapanesehouse]

Tatami that lasts 50 to 100 years?! Geez. I wonder if they have that same new tatami smell?

[@joschmoyo4532]

The one thing my head struggles with is that in Japan, despite the excellent build quality of homes like this, its maximum life span is considered to be only 100 year's ! Apparently the tax law's force home owner's to rebuild. I think that's very sad. I'm building a house that I fully expect to last at least 500 year's and hopefully a lot longer. That said most houses in Australia are built to a shockingly poor standard. After twenty years they will be falling apart. The building industry profits from poor construction of course, along with the banks. This is not the way of the craftsman.