Illinois Alum Nick Offerman Builds Gazebo in Tribute to Professor Shozo Sato

Illinois alumnus Nick Offerman returned to campus during Homecoming 2013 to construct a gazebo, or azumaya, in honor of his mentor, Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato.
The visit corresponded with a show and special dinner, with all proceeds going to Japan House.
For more information on Japan House, visit japanhouse.art....
For more information on Nick Offerman's woodshop, visit offermanwoodsho...

[@82olys]

Mr. Offerman is such a magnificent human being.

[@alecchase2000]

I fucking love him.

[@kenleonard9854]

Thank you, Nick! Your azumaya is a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, bound together by design & craftsmanship. I too was mentored by Shozo Sato when I studied graphic design at the University of Illinois. From Ikebana flower arranging I learned the principle of visual hierarchy - dominant, sub-dominant, sub-ordinate, and the secret of leading the eye around a flower arrangement, or a painting, or an illustration. From Sumi ink painting I learned the principle of negative space - how emptiness is not nothingness. How the unseen can be as powerful as the seen in a composition. From tea ceremony I learned how focus and ritual, combine to produce an appreciation of the moment - the exquisite "now". I use the principles that Shozo taught us every day of my professional and personal life. What a wonderful treat it was to see him with Nick building the azumaya. Ken Leonard, '70 Agoura Hills, California

[@dominikhofmann603]

I could listen to nick talking all day long what a great guy!

[@gabos7892]

I'm Japanese and a big Nick fan, this makes me so happy.

[@gunks_getaway]

we chose everything very carefully. except the paint brush. the paint brush was 99 cents at Walmart. (nick is my hero, just having fun)

[@MrSrtdan]

Blending styles into anything, from woodworking to buildings, transforms a piece into art. I appreciate people that love anything they do in life. Nick Offerman is a gentleman and a scholar.

[@lancelovecraft5913]

Damn dude. Swanson's sensei. Even great men like himself has had guidance in his life

[@stotheh]

The man just gets deeper every time I see anything he's been involved with. I remember a few great teachers I've had.

[@Horus175]

At 4:54 you can see he wrote "I

[@DrunkenKnight71]

i noticed that too, made me smile

[@helenburns2186]

Nick Offerman is such a gentleman. It sounds like Shozo Sato gives so much of himself and it is lovely to get to see such a loving tribute from Nick to him. Thanks for sharing.

[@kitano0]

Offerman is a cool cat...love the little plaque with " I love Megan" written at the bottom...never was a big "Parks and Recreation" fan, but he was awesome in the second season of Fargo...

[@yibyibyib]

I am not American nor a massive fan of Mr Offerman and I found this just by accident but I actually teared up a little at the end. Truly great!

[@Bobo411]

If there's something to dislike about Nick Offerman, I haven't found it yet.

[@KK-jg3hq]

Just like how Teddy Roosevelt was not only a pioneer but also a renaissance man who was deeply touched by Japanese culture, Nick is also the one.

[@TeamStevers]

This is a humbling show of respect

[@Gnargonaut]

Really quite moving

[@Aacre1975]

This was truly wonderful

[@jeromewesselman1654]

What a fine human being we have in Nick Offerman. I am a maker of things too, and have come to appreciate the learning process as well as the finished product. What a special man! It’s all about the journey from one end to the other. Learn to enjoy the journey!!

[@lulumoon6942]

This was absolutely beautiful, and made so much more satisfying with all the supporting details. Thank you both for your art, you have blessed many. 🙏🌸

[@jimhaggett6902]

Just beautiful

[@teaski3700]

Ron Swanson would approve.

[@ItIsJustJudy]

One of my siblings got to take the Japenese Tea Ceremony class at the UIUC. It was always full when it was my time to register. 😕

[@davidtothemax1]

now i understand why he wore that kimono with tammy 2

[@kenvelickoff4275]

World would be a much better place with more Nick's

[@christinecahill9821]

I just started watching Parks and Rec over the Christmas break and we are now up to episode 80 of 90 on Netflix. Ron Swanson is my favorite character. I don't agree with him politically, but I respect his consistent view. I am proud of my fellow alum and am thrilled that he gave back to his mentor and to the U of I in such a beautiful way that can be shared by all.

[@300daysandnights]

How do you not love all the libertarian bombs of wisdom he drops every episode?

[@logannewman4532]

+300daysandnights His character is interesting. He take that which is wrong with libertarianism and portrays it in a way that is funny at its own expense. Then he portrays the virtues of that philosophy in a way that seems to support those particular values.

[@Arthirias]

+Christine Cahill This country is going to hell because we don't have Swanson political views anymore.

[@ViciousTuna2012]

Christine Cahill What about his politics do you not agree with?

[@Arthirias]

+300daysandnights *How do you not love all the libertarian bombs of wisdom he drops every episode?* Women and manginas suck at freedom and independence bro. They need an overlord for every aspect of their lives.

[@areareare9953]

That bench...wow.

[@jeffinillinois]

I love that he mentions Greene and Greene!

[@mikeelek9713]

A wonderful actor and human being. We should all try to walk his path.

[@PaddyPawsRescue]

Decades ago the pond at Japan house used to be a meeting place for people to take their dogs. Maybe it still is. My boy dog and I went there often.

[@RobertJochim]

New respect.

[@colehalford1893]

Nick Offerman has Zen

[@rosseckstein4183]

Very cool.

[@realrazors8235]

That is an absolutely wonderful endeavor!

[@thetomster7625]

What a great man! well: what great men... and Mr Offermans few on religion is something that everyone should try to match: not really focusing on which religion, but rather assisting whatever is there that facilitates spiritual growth

[@aaron2414]

he is the epidome of a "man's man"

[@dengueberries]

Epitome

[@jato1956]

Beautiful.

[@davidallen346]

It's beautiful work of community art hopefully it will be taken care of and not be vandalize or destroy in the future 🙌🙏🤲

[@janerosaGermany]

I love Nick! he's a wonderful man

[@padstowphantom]

Brilliant

[@paulpement7797]

Love you, Shozo.

[@spookytook]

that's pretty cool

[@elizabethharttley4073]

i recently discovered this nick, namaste

[@user-xn2dm7gm4q]

Elizabeth Harttley 空间看看开挖机啊啊方脑壳拉拉票噗噗噗噗啪啪啪啪啪啪0奇葩骗我了考虑考虑1111111老婆老婆我爱你(ღ♡‿♡ღ)咳咳咳拉力器快来抢客气客气去看看看起来老了噜啦啦噜啦啦哭了起来苦逼呀

[@FancyUnicorn]

Love the yum yum donuts shirt he's wearing lol

[@kotajohnson2337]

I'm surprised he didn't hit it with his truck to test if it's safe 😂 if you get it you get it

[@EngineeringHooksets]

Oh shoot Ive sat on that bench. Had no idea it was built by Ron Swanson lol

[@collybeans586]

yes sensei!

[@Darthrocker06]

That looks like the same table he made for Colbert.

[@MomusFilms]

Helluva guy.

[@RgW00D]

I would have thought the gazebo would have been built with more "badass" techniques.

[@AhmedVlogs_10]

good

[@TELEVISIBLE]

Nick please be my father !

[@Nuuccii92]

This is the same Sato-Sensei that was mentioned in his book correct? =)

[@Illinois1867]

Yes.

[@willriggs3409]

It's nice, but I do kind of hate the use of so many metal fasteners that I noticed in something that was framed in an Asian style. Might have been mentioned, and I'm sure most will see it as nitpicking, but still! The one thing I've always loved about the way things are made in Japan is how the framing is done. Still though, a nice piece and it looks nice!

[@johnrobb9408]

Hey Nick, do you still have all of your fingers ?

[@cenling]

拽石搬心，I'm so curious about what it means😂

[@Loloeansoto]

You're spelling his name wrong. It should be Ron Swanson

[@piscesman74]

Damn onions

[@samuricexful]

So that's where he bussed to at the age of ten after his dad dropped him off at the steel mill.

[@elvest9]

I experienced the redwood forests and loved it so much that I cut it down so people could enjoy my bench instead.

[@ashleygarrett2220]

Have you seen the trailer for Nick Offerman's new movie, "Believe Me"? It looks so good! believemefilm.com?hlr=6FUJrcXF

[@calaban9]

?

[@BomimoDK]

Shovel the sidewalk or whatever needs doing. beautiful mindset for less republican times.

[@mszczepaniak]

I am not totally sure this isn't a bit

[@briancavanaugh5651]

It is not a bit. I am a student at UIUC and I am currently in Professor Emeritus Shozo Sato's class, Calligraphy & the Art of Zen Philosophy. He is a unique, gentle, and wise man. Shozo even officiated Nick Offerman's wedding.

[@SwampoO]

I don't want to take away from the gesture. But there's like 8 guys working on a gazebo.... that 1 guy could build in a day.

[@johnnyDizzyV]

one guy could definitely build it...but not in 1 day

[@artisan09]

I wish Nick would make a podcast! I dont even care what he talks about i would listen for hours!

[@ninoding]

I know I’m 3 years late but he did make a podcast recently.