Where tradition meets young hands
At first glance, Kumiko looks almost impossible.
Hundreds of tiny wooden pieces, held together with no nails, no screws, no glue.
Only wood.
Only hands.
Only time.
In the Unnan area, kumiko is not something preserved behind glass.
It is a living craft, shaped by tradition and carried forward by new hands.
At Funaki Woodworks, master craftsman Funaki-san works side by side with young artisans.
Here, experience is not guarded.
It is shared.
You see generations learning together.
Young craftspeople training their eyes and hands, guided by quiet precision and patience.
This is how craft survives in rural Japan.
Every piece is cut with astonishing accuracy, sometimes within 0.1 millimeters.
Not to impress, but to let the wood support itself, naturally.
Local timber is used.
Nothing is wasted.
Even the smallest shavings are given purpose.
When you sit at the workbench, time slows.
There is no rush to finish.
Mistakes are part of learning.
With a local Storyteller beside you, the meaning deepens.
Why Japanese craftsmanship values patience over speed.
Why repetition builds trust.
Why teaching the next generation matters as much as the craft itself.
Guests often say,
“I forgot about time.”
“I felt calm.”
“I understood something about Japan.”
You take home a small piece of kumiko.
But what stays longer is the rhythm of careful making.
This is one way we share the real Japan.
Quiet. Human. Intergenerational.
Unnan is a small place.
We do not seek crowds.
We welcome those who value time, people, and continuity.
If this feels like your kind of journey, send us a message.
We are happy to begin the conversation early.
Inquiry / Contact ThoughINAKA
https://thoughinaka.com/contact/
