Putting together kumiko is a bit like making a jigsaw puzzle. In both cases, a bunch of small, trivial parts fit together to create something significant. In both cases, the pieces only fit in a very specific way. Both require patience and persistence.
Here’s an example―a ready-to-assemble kit for a kumiko coaster made by Machida Tsuruhama Joinery in Japan.
Kumiko is a Japanese latticework technique which uses small, precisely-cut pieces of wood to create intricate patterns. Traditionally, kumiko was used to make partition furniture such as shoji (sliding doors or windows), fusuma (sliding screens), doors, and amado (rain shutters) “by assembling pieces of wood without using nails. Grooves, holes and projections are added to thinly shaven strips of wood, which are assembled piece by piece whilst adjustments are made using tools such as planes, saws and chisels.” explains the Japanese Traditional Crafts Resource Center in their description of Okawa Kumiko Wood Joinery. “Kumiko making is a craft where precision is of utmost importance such that even deviation by the thickness of a piece of paper can affect results”. So, yes, patience and persistence are definitely needed!
Although kumiko is decidedly Japanese, the technique and artform didn’t originate in Japan. According to the Tanihata Kumiko website, “Buddhism was introduced from Baekje [an ancient kingdom in southwestern Korea] about 1,400 years ago, along with the artisans, tools, and techniques necessary for temple construction. Prince Shotoku is said to have constructed temples in 46 locations around the country, and even today he is revered nationwide as the ‘god of artisans’. The technique that Kumiko is based on is said to have started around that time, and it has slowly transformed through the delicate sensibility of the Japanese people to become what it is today.”
It didn’t occur to me when I saw the stunning Sukibei Wall at the Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Tokyo but now I wonder if this latticework panel is kumiko.
I’ve admired the precision and beauty of kumiko for some time but didn’t know much about it until recently. Here are some examples from a few of the incredible kumiko craftspeople I follow on Instagram.
First up is Matt Kenney of MEK Woodworks. Thanks to his popular book, The Art of Kumiko: Learn to Make Beautiful Panels by Hand, and numerous published articles on the subject, Kenney is arguably the best known kumiko artist outside Japan. Kenney is also known for gorgeous handcrafted wooden boxes. He sells a variety of finished products featuring kumiko along with kumiko kits, supplies and tools in his online store.
Johnny Tromboukis of JT WoodWorks creates some amazing kumiko work but his bent kumiko chandelier is out of this world! Tromboukis has an online store selling kumiko starter kits, tools, supplies and plans. He also teaches classes and workshops.
Pavel Dibrov Woodworking shares his stunning projects on Instagram and sells outstanding finished products on Etsy. I love his caption in the below post―“This is how the latest pattern looks, when multiplied. More than 350 pieces in the palm of a hand.” Incredible!
Ryohei Morita of Morita Tategu Co makes custom fittings (ie doors, sliding screens and panels) and furniture often featuring spectacular kumiko. Look at these kumiko panels!
The last example is Yukio and Yuji Kuroda of Sashikan Tategu Kogei, traditional Japanese muntin joiners, who specialize in kumiko wooden fittings. “From homes to shrines to restaurants, Sashikan fittings are used widely, providing an atmospheric fusion of Japanese culture and modern tastes.”
As you can see in these examples, kumiko is not only used to make partition furniture. It’s also used as wall art and as ornamentation on lamps, wooden boxes, mirrors, tables, chests and other furniture items.
I was delighted to come across an exhibit by Kamon Tategu Kogei at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts during my visit to Kanazawa Japan a few years ago. The exhibit featured tategu which is the production and fitting of the doors and partition panels typical of Japan’s traditional interior architectural style.
The kumiko pieces pictured below―a kumiko standing lamp, an elaborate folding screen, and an exquisite kumiko panel―were all made by Kamon Joinery Crafts.
It was amazing to discover the kumiko embellishment on this sign in the post town of Magome along the Nakasendo Trial. The Maruya Inn’s sign is eye-catching during the day and stunning at night.
In the nearby post town of Tsumago, I was pleasantly surprised to find pretty kumiko panels for sale at a little coffee shop. I purchased one in a pattern called Square Hemp Leaf (Kaku Asanoha). I’ve learned this pattern is one of the most popular kumiko designs. It has been used since the Heian period (794 – 1185) and is commonly seen in Buddhist furnishings. The panel is made in “Kiso Hinoki” which is a particularly famous Japanese cypress grown in the Kiso area.
It is, of course, one thing to admire and study kumiko made by others but a different thing entirely to try to make it yourself. At least, that was my experience at the Introduction to Kumiko class I attended recently at the Woodcraft location in Alpharetta (Northeast Atlanta), Georgia.
Our instructor, Deana Spencer, is well-versed in the making of kumiko and generously shared her knowledge with the class. It was obvious from the project kits she presented to each student that she had done considerable preparation in advance. Each kit included a partially pre-cut set of kumiko pieces. Our task was to cut the final pieces and assemble a small kumiko panel in the Square Leaf (Yotsuba Izutsu-Tsugi) design. Thanks to Deana’s calm, attentive guidance everyone managed to complete their projects. She fostered a relaxed, collaborative setting which made the entire experience most enjoyable. Thank you, Deana!
We started by assembling a grid with the pre-cut, half-lapped pieces called “bars”. I’d love to learn how to make these pieces from scratch, especially with traditional Japanese hand tools, but that’s a much more involved process requiring an advanced class.
The next steps required us to become familiar with our tools including a beveled guide block, a hand plane and a dozuki saw.
The dozuki saw is a Japanese “pull saw” meaning the thin blade cuts on the pull stroke instead of the more common, push stroke. Dozuki saws are designed to make the precise, clean cuts needed for fine woodworking. We used the dozuki saw to cut the diagonal insert pieces to the estimated length.
The center motif in the Square Leaf pattern is a # symbol―commonly called a ‘hashtag”. We centered the pre-assembled hashtags inside the grid and prepared the diagonal insert pieces by cutting a centered point with 45° bevels on both ends. 
Our beveled guide blocks had one end with a 45° angle and the other with a 67.5° angle. We clamped the guide block into the work bench so the 45° guide was easily accessible. Then we set the adjustable stop to the desired length and inserted one of the diagonal insert pieces into the groove. Next, we used the small, specialized hand plane to shave miniscule slices of wood off the end while letting the angle of the guide block control the bevel.
This proved to be more difficult than it sounds! My first set of centered points were beautiful but the pieces were too short and instead of fitting snuggly in the panel, they simply fell out. Oops… try again! My second attempt was more successful with the diagonal parts fitting snuggly in place and holding firm. After that, it wasn’t difficult to repeat the process for the remaining diagonal insert pieces.
One helpful tip we learned was to flatten and level the assembled panel between two firm, flat surfaces.
As noted previously, the pieces in a well-made kumiko fit together so snuggly that no nails or adhesive are needed. But it’s not uncommon for kumiko woodworkers to secure the pieces with use tiny amounts of glue, especially if the panel will be functional―on the lid of box or the door of a cabinet, for instance.
Throughout the assembly process, we had a few options to personalize our projects. For instance, we could trim off the ends of the grid to square up the outside frame similar to how this panel was trimmed before it was inserted into the wooden box shown below.
I chose to leave my panel untrimmed and then finish it with Japanese paper on the back. We used narrow, double-sided tape to attach the paper.
I’ll wrap up with a couple of photos of my finished Square Leaf Kumiko Panel.
More Info
I thoroughly enjoyed the Introduction to Kumiko class I attended at the Woodcraft location in Alpharetta (Northeast Atlanta), Georgia. Many thanks to Deana Spencer and my fellow students for making it a great experience. You can learn more about Woodcraft’s in-store woodworking classes on the Woodcraft website.
Several of the photos featured in this blog post were taken during my 2023 trip to Japan. See the Travel > Asia > Japan category on the blog for stories and photos from this memorable trip.
For more information on the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts in Kanazawa Japan, see their website.
The following resources were consulted in writing this blog post:
. Japanese Traditional Crafts Resource Center website listing for Okawa Kumiko Wood Joinery
. What is Kumiko (Kumiko craft)? About Tanihata’s Kumiko article on the Tanihata Kumiko website
. Kamon Joinery Crafts website
. Here’s How to Get Started with Kumiko article by Matt Kenney on his MEK Woodworks website
. What is Kumiko? article by Johnny Tromboukis on his JT Woodworks website
. Spice Up Your Work with Kumiko article by Mike Pekovich in January/February 2017 issue of Fine Woodworking
. Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use book by Toshio Odate which is available here on Internet Archives
. 6 Things You Need to Know About Kumiko Woodworking article on Japan Objects website
. Tanihata and the Art of Kumiko Ramma: Traditional Japanese Craftsmanship article on Tharawat Magazine website
. Desmond King on Instagram and YouTube. King is widely recognized for bringing kumiko to the world through his books: Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 1 The Basics (January 2012); Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 2 Beyond the Basics (June 2015); Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 3 Hexagonal Patterns (October 2016); and Shoji and Kumiko Design: Book 4 Diamond Patterns (November 2018).
To see more amazing kumiko, check out the Instagram accounts and associated websites listed below:
. Matt Kenney of MEK Woodworks Instagram account and Website
. Johnny Tromboukis of JT Woodworks Instagram account and Website
. Pavel Dibrov Woodworking Instagram account and Etsy Shop
. Ryohei Morita Instagram account and Website
. Sashikan Tategu Kogei Instagram account and Website.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Kumiko is a Japanese latticework technique which uses small, precisely-cut pieces of wood to create intricate patterns.
2. “Kumiko making is a craft where precision is of utmost importance such that even deviation by the thickness of a piece of paper can affect results.” Japanese Traditional Crafts Resource Center
3. Consider kumiko if you’re interested in fine woodworking with precision and beauty.
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