Tsugite
Lengthening joints
Woodwork & joinery
Japanese wood joints
Tsugite, shiguchi & kumiko
A guide to traditional Japanese carpentry joints — interlocking geometry, temple craftsmanship, and the tools behind each technique.
Featured joints
Foundational techniques trusted by master carpenters.
Hozo Tsugi
ほぞ継ぎ
The classic mortise and tenon joint, essential for frame construction and corner assemblies.
Kama Tsugi
鎌継ぎ
A sickle-shaped lap joint that locks beams together with graceful compression, favoring tea house transoms.
Ari Otoshi
蟻落とし
A Japanese dovetail joint that tightens under load, ensuring compression without nails or glue.
Koshikake Ari Tsugi
腰掛蟻継ぎ
A lap dovetail joint balancing speed of assembly with dependable shear resistance.
Joint categories
Grouped by how each joint carries load and fits together.
Shiguchi
Frame connections
Kumi Tsugi
Corner assemblies
Itahagi
Edge joints
Kumiko
Lattice artistry
Learning path
Build skill from careful foundations to temple-grade craftsmanship.
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1
Beginner — Careful foundations
Start with itahagi edge joints and simple mortise-tenon pairs to train accuracy.
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2
Intermediate — Structural harmony
Blend shiguchi frame joints with kumiko panels to understand grain behavior and seasonal movement.
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3
Advanced — Temple craftsmanship
Master tsugite scarf joints and hidden locking mechanisms engineered for longevity.
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4
Mastery — Cultural stewardship
Lead collaborative builds, document heritage sites, and mentor the next generation of artisans.