Join us July 24 - 27, 2025 in Mercer, Maine for four days Celebrating Japanese Woodworking!
This year we are expanding from 3 to 4 days, starting with an all-hands group timber frame raising and continuing the tradition of in-depth, hands-on workshops, expert instructors, opportunities to learn and practice with Japanese tools, and special events including a Japanese boat launch ceremony, swordsmanship demonstration, BBQ Bonfire Party, and of course the revered planing competition!
New to woodworking? Welcome and we hope to see you! Check out the FAQ page for answers to common questions.
New for 2025: Group Timber Frame Raising, Lightening Talks, Scholarship Packages, and more to come!
This year all of our summer events will run back-to-back; get ready for a packed July of Japanese timber framing, woodworking, hewing, hand planing, and joinery:
Featured Presenters
Jeff Bearce
Jeff began practicing Japanese carpentry twenty years ago at Joinery Structures and now runs 3 Sticks Design / Build where he specializes in traditional Japanese buildings. Grounded in tradition, his work exhibits a character rarely seen outside of Japan. Jeff also writes extensively about the nature of work, craft, and carpentry at his blog Knowing Hands.
Jim Blauvelt
Jim began his career in woodworking in 1982 studying under Robert Meadow before delving into to traditional handwork under Toshihiro Sahara from 1986 to 1990. Jim also apprenticed with Makoto Imai working on Japanese timber frame structures. Also an avid blacksmith and tool maker, Jim offers a wealth of knowledge across many disciplines.
Dorian Bracht
@dorianbracht
Dorian Bracht trained in furniture making in Germany, apprenticing in Leipzig, before founding his Berlin workshop in 2012. A passionate craftsman, he specializes in creating custom, handcrafted furniture. Dorian is also the author of the book Japanese Joinery and shares his expertise through the YouTube series, Joint Venture, showcasing intricate joint-cutting techniques.
Douglas Brooks
Douglas Brooks is a boatbuilder, writer, researcher and teacher. Since 1990 he has studied traditional Japanese boatbuilding, building boats with nine teachers, all craftspeople in their seventies and eighties from throughout Japan. He is the sole apprentice for seven of his teachers. He is the author of five books, including Japanese Wooden Boatbuilding, the first comprehensive survey of the craft.
Jason Forster
Jason began his woodworking career apprenticing under Oakland daiku Jay van Arsdale, building over 70 bonsai benches for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. A former materials science postdoctoral fellow, Jason holds a Ph.D. in soft matter physics from Yale. He teaches Japanese woodworking and works as a carpenter at Hermitage Woodworks in Richmond, CA.
John Reed Fox
John Reed Fox has been designing and building fine furniture and accessories since 1979. His "one of a kind" and limited edition pieces have been exhibited at national juried craft fairs, invitational shows and galleries. Japanese houseware and architectural design is the major influence in his effort to create functional, decorative and elegant furniture.
Brian Lam
@blam
Brian is a writer, journalist and woodworking with a passion for deep understanding in all his interests. He spent five years restoring a historic home in Honolulu, complete with a pro woodshop, before diving deep into Japanese carpentry and timber framing. Forever hungry to learn from masters, Brian explores the feeling of craft, fine things, and old-house fixes in his newsletter Paklan, sharing what it’s like to become a true craftsperson.
Brian Holcombe @bp.holcombe
Brian designs and builds original work, drawing influence from Japanese Sashimono and furniture of the Ming Dynasty. Focusing on cabinetry, casework, tables, boxes, art framing and shoji. Also a skilled machinist, Brian brings a refined precision to his work, often including his own designed and handmade hardware.
Andrew Hunter
Andrew is a custom furniture maker based in New York’s Hudson Valley, specializing in traditional Japanese hand tools. A self-taught woodworker with over 20 years of experience, he teaches workshops across the Northeast and writes for Fine Woodworking magazine, sharing insights into Eastern woodworking principles and techniques.
Alex Perez
Alexander Perez is a woodworker, artist, and sawyer. A man of mixed disciplines with an extensive past, he can be found traversing the forests of the Hudson Valley with his dog (Freyja) and chainsaw (Dolores) or diligently flattening his whetstones. He takes pride in his ability to identify wood just by scent and is on a great quest to defend analog at all costs.
Andrew is a master of the hand plane, a skilled photographer, and a dedicated tool dealer. Known for his obsessive approach to honing his skills, he excels in planing competitions in Japan, achieving single-digit micron shavings. He collaborates with blacksmiths to develop premium tools for woodworking enthusiasts.
Sayuri Suzuki-Schreiber
Born in Kawasaki and raised in Koga, Japan, Suzuki-san moved to the Bay Area in 1996, immersing herself in the Japanese tool trade operating Suzuki-ya Suzuki Tool. She co-founded Kezurou-Kai USA in 2015 and is a highly knowledgeable in Japanese steel, hardware, and knife sharpening.
Hiroshi Awano @
Hiroshi “Hiro” Awano is a Virginia-based woodworker with over 18 years of experience, who began as a door maker in Japan. Known for his unstoppable work ethic and deep respect for traditional craft, Hiro creates everything from shoji screens and kumiko lattice to copper roof tiles and restorations. Blending time-honored techniques with fresh ideas, he brings exceptional skill and dedication to every project.
Jay Van Arsdale
Jay Van Arsdale apprenticed in his family’s Kentucky blacksmith shop before earning an MFA in sculpture. In the mid-70s, he studied with Japanese daiku Makoto Imai. Jay teaches woodworking, lectures widely, and is the author of Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens, among other works.
Yann Giguère
Yann founded Mokuchi Studio in 2008 and previously ran the NY KEZ event until relocating to Oregon. He honed his Japanese woodworking skills while apprenticing under Dale Brotherton at the Takumi Company. His work exhibits fine joinery, clean finishing and a clear reverence for the natural material. Yann passionately shares his expertise with students through his workshops and classes.
Schedule of Events
Our schedule tends to expand and change as we get closer to the festival, the below may lack specific times or detail that will be added over the next few months.
Early Arrival - Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Those who are traveling from afar and camping at the festival may arrive after 4:00 PM on Wednesday.
Tatemae / Raising Day - Thursday, July 24, 2025
The first day of the 2025 Maine Japanese Woodworking Festival is also the final day of our Summer Japanese Timber Frame Workshop: Blacksmith Shop Build. We want to share the struggle and the joy of raising a large timber frame as a team and encourage you to participate as much as you would like. More details coming soon.
| 7:30 AM |
Check-in Opens
Come early to get your badge for the weekend before we begin the raising.
|
| 8:00 AM |
Timber Frame Raising
We’ll start raising day with a group meeting to go over process and safety. If you’d like to actively participate in the raising, please be on site for this meeting.
You’re welcome to watch the process throughout the day and ask any questions during breaks.
What to Bring (optional): Just yourself or optionally your carpentry toolbelt, gloves, closed-toe shoes, hardhat
|
| 10:00 AM |
Tool Tuneup
For early attendees hungry to get their tools set up for the weekend’s workshops, we’ll have the sharpening and planing area ready, with various experts on site to help you with your tools.
What to Bring: Your Japanese tools, either brand new or well used
|
| 5:00 PM |
Timber Frame Student Presentation and Celebration
With luck we’ll place the ridge beam by the end of the day and hold a small ceremony before dinner. Students will present to the larger group on the timber frame build and answer questions.
|
| 6:30 PM |
Dinner & Raising Party
Celebrate the raising with food, drinks, and good company.
|
| 11:00 PM |
Quiet
|
Hands On Friday - Friday, July 25, 2025
This year we will be running two parallel hands on workshops to maximize instructor and student interaction. There will be two concurrent workshops in the morning and two after lunch. Attend two of the four that interest you most. As most workshops provide practice materials we ask that you participate fully in each of your two selections.
| 7:30 AM |
Check-in Opens
|
| 8:30 AM |
Jim Blauvelt – Layout for Hip Roof Framing
Participate in the laying out and cutting of a full scale model of a hip roof corner, where two roof planes meet at a corner.
Take notes or follow along as we will provide those interested with practice stock.
What to Bring: Sashigane (square), marking tools, string line, ink line, your basic tools (saw, chisel, hammer)
|
| 8:30 AM |
Hiroshi Awano – Japanese Copper Tile Roofs, Forming and Assembly
Learn how copper roof tiles are folded and interlocked to form a beautiful and water tight covering for a small awning roof.
Participants will learn about basic roof trim out, proportioning the tiles, and get a chance to fold and assemble the tiles.
What to Bring: Gloves
|
| 1:00 PM |
Jay Van Arsdale & Jason Forster – Letting the Roots of Joinery Bloom: How to Cut Any Joint with a 5-Part Process
Jay and Jason will demonstrate a practical approach to understanding the fundamental shapes and processes behind all types of joinery
— from the humble half-lap to more complex compound joinery.
A firm grasp of the five fundamental reductive processes (cross cut, rip cut, chopping, paring, and splitting) is the foundation of working through joinery of ever-increasing complexity.
This presentation will be hands-on and participants should be prepared to layout and cut joinery alongside the instructors.
What to Bring: Sashigane (square), pen or pencil, nomi, hammer, ryoba (240 mm)
|
| 6:00 PM |
Dinner
Our annual Friday pizza party.
|
| 7:00 PM |
Moderated Conversation: Will O’Connor & Yann Giguère – Welcoming Hands: Teaching & Guiding Beginners
This moderated session aims to open a conversation about how we as teachers, mentors, and as a community,
can be more welcoming and encouraging to new woodworkers, especially those at the very start of their journey.
We’ll grapple with some of the specific ways that Japanese woodworking can be intimidating, and explore ways to make the path more inviting.
|
| 11:00 PM |
Quiet
|
Saturday Workshops and Presentations - Saturday, July 26, 2025
In-depth workshops and presentations by masters of the craft. Designated areas to discuss, try and troubleshoot tools plus the vibrant planing practice tent!
| 7:00 AM |
Daniel Pinder & Josh Slaby – Dawn Martial Arts Demonstration
Daniel and Josh will demonstrate kata from Hōzōin-ryū, a classical Japanese spear art, followed by kendo sparring demonstrations.
|
| 8:00 AM |
Check-in Opens
|
| 8:30 AM |
Douglas Brooks – Japanese Boat Design and Construction
Douglas will show traditional Japanese boat building techniques like layout, saw fitting, and edge-nailing.
Expect to see material propped on low horses using overhead beams — a setup true to the craft’s roots.
|
| 10:20 AM |
Brian Lam Interviews Andrew Ren – Master Sharpening Demonstration
Andrew Ren recently set a world record at Kezurokai Japan, taking hand planing to another level.
Hear him in a live interview with Brian Lam, then watch them dive into advanced sharpening techniques in a collaborative, hands-on demo.
What to Bring: Your stones and kanna blades
|
| 12:00 PM |
Lunch
|
| 1:00 PM |
Brian Holcombe – Super Surfacer Operation, Tuning and "Planing Competition"
Join machine whisperer Brian Holcombe as he reviews the tools and techniques to calibrate and tune precision woodworking machines.
He’ll demonstrate and fine-tune the super surfacer, and we’ll see just how thin this incredible machine can cut.
|
| 1:00 PM |
Andrew Hunter – Collaborative Kanna Tuning
Andrew will go through fine adjustments to make a Japanese handplane perform exquisitely, then lead a hands-on tuning session to help you dial in your tools.
What to Bring (optional): Your Japanese handplane, tuning tools, stones
|
| 2:50 PM |
Jeff Bearce – Japanese Gate Design
Jeff will go over the design and proportions for the gate planned for the
fall timber framing workshop
, and discuss traditional gate considerations and forms.
What to Bring: Sketch pad
|
| 2:50 PM |
John Reed Fox – Cohesive Design Intent, Material Selection and Furniture Design
Explore ideas for achieving thoughtful, cohesive furniture design by looking closely at material choices, proportion, and intent.
What to Bring: Sketch pad
|
| TBD |
Douglas Brooks & Alex Perez – Japanese Boat Launch Ceremony
Celebrate the completion of the boat build with a traditional launch ceremony. More details coming soon.
|
| 4:00 PM |
Jim Blauvelt – Christening the Forge: Blacksmith Demo
Let sparks fly under our
newly raised blacksmith shop
frame as Jim demonstrates his tool making and forging techniques.
|
| 6:00 PM |
Barbeque and Bonfire!
Join us for a classic BBQ feast and sake toast as we kick off the annual bonfire party.
|
| 11:00 PM |
Quiet
|
Sunday Festival and Competition - Sunday, July 27, 2025
Morning talk followed by traditional log splitting, hewing, and wood preparation demonstration for all. An afternoon featuring a planing competition!
| 8:00 AM |
Check-in Opens
|
| 8:30 AM |
Dorian Bracht – Advanced Japanese Joinery and Furniture Design
Explore advanced concepts in Japanese joinery and how they inform thoughtful, elegant furniture design.
Dorian will discuss process, layout, and design considerations for bringing complex ideas to life.
What to Bring: Nothing
|
| 10:00 AM |
Group Activity – Log to Timber: Split, Hew, Adze, Yari ganna
Join us for a group effort to split down a large timber using traditional methods, including the whale back saw (maebiki).
We'll then hew, adze, and plane the timber into shape. Loaners will be available to try out.
What to Bring (optional): Hewing axe, chouna, adze, spear plane
|
| 10:00 AM |
Planing Practice and Qualification Begins
During this period, contestants are eligible to submit a plane shaving to the judges for measuring.
We’ll rank shavings by thinness, with approximately 10 finalists and 5 master finalists advancing to the afternoon competition.
What to Bring: Your Japanese handplane, sharpening stones, tuning tools
|
| 12:00 PM |
Lunch
|
| 1:00 PM |
Hand Plane Shaving Competition Finals
There will be a special planing board prepared flat and true by one of the judges.
Before each turn, finalists can have the surface refreshed by a judge or use up to 3 minutes to prep it themselves.
Each finalist can take up to three final shavings — use it or lose it, only your last shaving submitted can be judged.
Shavings will be measured at three points with a calibrated micrometer, averaged, and assessed for consistency, width, and quality.
Winners for First, Second, and Third place will be announced and awarded prizes.
|
| 3:15 PM |
Award and Closing Ceremonies
Celebrate the skill, craftsmanship, and friendships built over the festival weekend as we wrap things up with awards and farewells.
|
Lightening Talks
For 2025 we will schedule several time slots where an attendee can sign up to give a short 15 minute presentation. Share a skill, show off a project, do a demonstration, or give a lecture. Let us know if you are interested in the free comments section during registration. More details coming soon.
Vendor Table and Swap Meet
Do you have quality, new or lightly used Japanese woodworking tools you might like to pass on to another craftsperson? We’ll provide a small area and method to swap and sell to fellow enthusiasts. Be sure to indicate your interest in selling at the swap meet during registration. Additionally, for the 2025 event we are happy to welcome the following vendors:
Kanata Tools
Andrew Ren will be selling a curated selection of premium Japanese hand tools and planes from famed tool makers Yamamoto, Ouchi, Mitsukawa and more!
Blue Water Forge
Bluewater Forge, operated by presenter Jim Blauvelt, will be offering a selection of hand made tools, hammer heads, and knives, featuring his signature feather pattern damascus that truly must be seen to be believed.
Registration
Here you may purchase your ticket to the event. If you don’t see ticket options below refresh this page. Once you register you can join the event Facebook page to coordinate with other attendees. We encourage you to bring your family and significant others to the evening events. After you select your event registrations you will have the option to add on additional Thursday, Friday or Saturday dinners, as well as premium tools available only to workshop and festival attendees to be picked up at the festival. Note that you’ll be notified that you already have dinners in your cart if you select a package deal, these are your included dinners.
Festival Scholarship
Through generous donations by former workshop students and festival goers we will be reserving a few full “Festival Package” tickets to award to those new to the craft who have shown a passion and desire to learn Japanese Woodworking.
The application deadline is June 1, 2025 - Scholarships will be awarded on June 7, 2025. Interested?
Registration FAQ
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Things come up, and we are glad to issue a full refund any time up to a month before the event. Given the logistics and expenses required to put on an event such as this, we are unable to give refunds after 12:00AM June 24th. Thank you for your understanding.
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Yes, when you make your registration selections, you’ll be given the option to list who the ticket is for. Please list the person’s name for whom you are buying the ticket under “Attendee Name” Each attendee should answer the registration questions and agree to our liability waiver.
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Of course! During registration you’ll be able to add on additional seats for the dinners.
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Simply select the number of tickets you want from the drop down next to each option. You’ll be presented with questions for each attendee during checkout.
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In this case you should pick one “Festival Package” and one “Sunday Only Registration” listing yourself for the full package and your friend for the Sunday Only.
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Bundles have all discounts already applied, discount codes will work for single day tickets.
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If you previously registered for the workshop and would later like to add festival attendance for a discount, please contact us and we will provide you with an access code. Enter the discount you received as an access code on the ticket page, this will unlock a specially discounted full festival package.
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You are registered to participate if you get the Festival Package and will be provided with certain hands on materials when the workshops begin.
Please note that payment cards will show payment company as NEVER STOP BUILDING LLC.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Each year we host over 100 skilled and thoughtful craftspeople, highly passionate about quality tools and Japanese woodworking. It doesn’t get more targeted then that. The Maine Japanese Woodworking Festival is offering a select set of sponsorship packages with all proceeds going directly to support the crafts people participating in the event. Check out our Sponsorship Rate Card and contact jason@neverstopbuilding.com for more details.