Woodworking teacher Lauren Verdugo traded their classroom for the forests of Japan this summer, joining a chairmaking residency at the Mt. Fuji Wood Culture Society to carve out some new skills. Lauren was invited by Tak Yoshino — a master woodworker dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese joinery and artistry.

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"The chairmaking residency is available only by Tak’s invitation or through a competitive application process, so I was thrilled that my original plans could still be honored," Lauren shared. "While I was there, I lived alongside several other participants in the residency program: an architect from Washington state, a Norwegian designer, an Australian university woodworking technician, an engineer from Turkey, a French artist, an Italian architecture student studying in Tokyo, and a very kind self taught craftsman from Whales."

In 2016, Takahiro Yoshino purchased a small forest at the base of Mt. Fuji in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan, where he founded the Mt. Fuji Wood Culture Society. This society now includes a furniture museum, a studio woodshop, educational spaces, and wood storage. In 2019, he invited Lauren to learn his craft and help share his legacy with Western students, as fewer young people in Japan are continuing traditional crafts. Unfortunately, pandemic restrictions delayed Lauren's visit for several years. By the time they were able to travel, they had received a job offer from George School and had to postpone their residency from Fall 2024 to Summer 2025.

Under Tak’s guidance, Lauren explored the intricate craft of "Hozogumi," the Japanese method of joinery, renowned for its strength and precision without the use of nails or screws. They also immersed themself in "Sashimono," a handcrafted curved style that brings out the wood's natural beauty and flexibility. "Tak's unique approach combines these time-honored methods with sculptural techniques explicitly developed to create furniture that fits the human body with exceptional comfort and grace," said Lauren. "I learned how over 300 types of hand-made planes, or 'Kanna,' are used to form delicate, complex three-dimensional curves. This allows the wood to become a truly supportive and healing companion in daily life, echoing Tak's belief that a perfectly fitting chair can actually enhance the natural healing abilities of the body."

Collaborating with Tak was deeply inspiring. His unwavering dedication goes beyond woodworking mastery — it includes a belief in the healing power of the craft and the enduring bond formed with a thoughtfully made piece. Tak’s philosophy and technical expertise have profoundly shaped my own practice, transforming how I approach and understand woodworking.

During Lauren’s chairmaking residency in Japan, the expectation was to create a chair based on the skills and techniques they learned from Tak. The process was both immersive and transformative for Lauren. “I began with scale drawings, then moved on to maquettes (small models), before creating full-scale drawings and a full-scale prototype, and finally completing my final chair,” said Lauren. “For my project, I chose to make a meditation chair out of Japanese chestnut — a rare and special material, especially since chestnut is almost nonexistent in North America.”

 

Each morning started with 15 minutes of meditation, helping the artists center themselves before they planned and strategized for the day's work. "Tak demonstrated dozens of advanced techniques, but what impressed us most was his intuitive, almost effortless way of working," said Lauren. "Observing his hands flow through each step with confidence and precision left all of us in awe. This experience not only taught me valuable woodworking skills but also gave me a profound appreciation for the quiet focus and deep connection required to create truly meaningful pieces. My favorite detail in the woodshop was a wooden sign that said 'Practice Never Ends' in Kanji calligraphy."

Several moments stand out to Lauren from their time in Japan. The first is hand-carving their chair seat with the "Kanna" they had spent a week setting up and sharpening. "It was incredibly rewarding to glide it across the chestnut surface and pull up perfect, impossibly thin ribbons," reflected Lauren. "My other favorite moments were enjoying all of the incredibly delicious food I was able to eat for eight weeks straight. I was fortunate enough to have many home-cooked traditional dishes and desserts made by Tak’s wife, Junko, who has her own garden on the property."

Lauren is excited to bring these experiences — and a renewed respect for traditional craftsmanship — into their teaching at George School. "By sharing them with my students, I hope to inspire the same appreciation for the art’s heritage. This experience has also inspired me to lay the groundwork for a future woodworking and sustainability service trip to Japan, further enriching our community."

The Yoshino family also maintains a close relationship with the Nakashima's, another George School family. Toshi Nakashima, great-grandson of renowned Japanese American furniture maker George Nakashima, is carrying on their extraordinary legacy of woodworking.

Looking ahead, Lauren is working on launching an annual Campus Tree Cutting event, where students will use logs harvested from George School's beautiful 240-acre campus, following the sustainable approach that Tak and his family apply to managing their own forest.