The Work of a MIYADAIKU
“When we were young, we entered apprenticeship right after graduating from middle school. It takes at least fifteen years to become fully skilled. I’m getting older now, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep working—but there’s no one left to teach.”
RO PROJECT began with these words. They were spoken quietly by Mr.Kinoshita, a “Miyadaiku” - a shrine carpenter we met locally - expressing a reality he lives every day.
The work of a shrine carpenter centers on the construction and restoration of shrines and temples.
It is a profession that requires looking decades—sometimes centuries—into the future, facing wood directly, and building structures entirely through handwork. The level of skill and judgment demanded cannot be acquired quickly; it is the result of many years of dedicated practice.
Today, due to the difficulty of mastering these techniques and the aging of craftsmen, the number of shrine carpenters in Japan is said to have declined to around one hundred. Shikoku is no exception, where the lack of successors has become a serious issue.
Opportunities to encounter their craftsmanship in everyday life are rare.
We felt that the first step was simply to help people know about it.
Rather than confining shrine carpentry techniques to sacred or special places, we sought to translate them into forms that could be touched, used, and felt in daily life. From this idea emerged products that carry the skills and sensibilities of shrine carpentry into everyday settings.
"Miyadaiku are traditional Japanese craftsmen who specialize in the construction and restoration of historic wooden structures such as shrines and temples. Unlike general carpenters, they do not rely on nails or metal fittings, instead building through highly refined joinery techniques. Working primarily with natural wood, they must deeply understand the unique character of each piece. Their craft is closely tied to Japan’s aesthetic values, harmony with nature, and spirituality. Through long years of training, shrine carpenters have passed their skills down across generations, preserving not only cultural heritage but also architectural beauty and advanced techniques that endure through time."
Shin Kinoshita, Miyadaiku
A shrine carpenter based in Tokushima Prefecture. He began his training immediately after graduating from middle school and has continued to refine his craft ever since. His work focuses primarily on the construction and restoration of shrines and temples, dedicating his life to working with wood.
“Every piece of wood is different. That’s why you can never use the same approach twice.”
Authentic Products with Integrity
When standing before a piece of wood, Kinoshita Miyadaiku first takes time to quietly observe its presence. The density of the growth rings, the flow of the grain, the position of each knot. Through his hands, he senses the environment in which the tree grew and the length of time it has endured.
To make full use of the wood’s inherent strength, he instinctively determines the most suitable form and the way it should be carved. Relying not on detailed drawings but on a simple outline, he shapes the form with precision and confidence, guided by the tactile knowledge cultivated through many years of experience.
Witnessing this depth of understanding and the delicate, assured skill born from time, we felt strongly that this craftsmanship must not be allowed to disappear.
We returned again and again to dialogue and experimentation with Kinoshita Miyadaiku, asking ourselves what kind of product would truly be worth making. And from this process, a single form emerged.
Hinoki that Kinoshita Miyadaiku has worked with for decades. The refined sense of touch he has developed as a shrine carpenter. And our own belief in creating something that can continue naturally and sustainably.
All of these elements came together in HINOKI STOOL.
Without imposing an overly specific function, designed to belong quietly in everyday life regardless of who uses it or where it is placed. Yet when touched, or when the eye lingers upon it, the strength of the material and the certainty of the craftsmanship can be felt.
HINOKI STOOL is not a product meant to explain shrine carpentry.
Rather, it is something through which the time and handwork behind the craft are conveyed naturally, simply by being used.
As RO PROJECT’s first product, and as one answer to passing craftsmanship into the future, this stool was born.
HINOKI STOOL, was born from Kinoshita Daiku’s many years of experience and the refined sense of touch he has cultivated as a shrine carpenter. Its smooth, flowing form is made possible only through his technique of carving by hand using chisels and planes. Translating skills traditionally used in the sacred context of shrines and temples into an object for everyday life became a completely new challenge—for both RO PROJECT and Kinoshita Daiku.