Japanese Kumiko Woodworking Workshop: Learn Precision Joinery

For Diwali, we created a special edition Kumiko lamp. This design incorporates curved elements into the traditional straight-lined Asanoha pattern to form the shape of a diya, or oil lamp.

A finished Kumiko lamp, lit up to show the beautiful interplay of light and shadow through the wooden lattice. This one features the classic Asanoha pattern, made from delicate strips of white ash wood.

Anju carefully places the final infill pieces into her Asa-no-ha Kumiko pattern. This is a moment of pure concentration, where the entire intricate design comes together.

The assembly stage of the Kumiko frames. You can see the small, precisely cut wooden strips being interlocked to form the grid. We use a small hammer to gently tap everything into place.

Here you can see the process of cutting half-lap joints on the table saw. These small notches are crucial for allowing the Kumiko strips to interlock perfectly without any fasteners.

This is the result at the end of day one of the Kumiko lamp workshop. The main lamp frame, built from Beech Wood, is assembled and ready for the detailed Kumiko panel work on day two.

Another angle of a completed student project. The warm light diffuses beautifully through the paper, highlighting the delicate wooden geometry of the Kumiko screen.

This is a triangle grid Kumiko lamp with a Rindou pattern, shown before the diffuser paper is applied. The dark-stained frame provides a strong contrast to the lighter infill pieces.

The same triangle grid Kumiko lamp, now powered on. The light transforms the piece, creating a warm and inviting ambiance and showcasing the complex joinery.