Tomoya Hyodo

Woodworker

©Naoki Miyashita

The beauty of precision

Tomoya specialises in making pieces for tea and incense ceremonies
He uses traditional techniques and natural materials
His works store national treasures and cultural items

Hyodo Tomoya is a master of “Sashimono”, a traditional Japanese technique for assembling wooden items without using nails. Fascinated by the precision of machinery, Tomoya first pursued a career as a race car mechanic before moving on to study woodworking. After encountering the beauty of minutely crafted “Sashimono” wooden boxes, he decided to become an artisan. "Experiencing the joy of making and learning by working with natural materials" is what he likes the most about his work. His commitment to materials and to achieving a perfect result, which makes his work unique, comes from his prior experience in ironwork, dyeing and furniture making, where he learned about the characteristics and cultural background of each material.

Interview

©Naoki Miyashita

©Naoki Miyashita

How would you best describe your work?: The paulownia boxes I make are expensive because they are made in a traditional and time-consuming way. While there are few people looking for this kind of product, I believe that it is my role to protect, pass on and further develop these techniques.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: Tradition is an accumulation of culture. It is a precious thing filled with time and history: like the core of the human body. Developing the core is a means, not an end. I use tradition to create works that excite the mind and body and bring joy to the creative process, without being carried away by current trends.
What do you think makes something well made?: I only create what I want to create, but I believe that something is good when it transcends self-expression and has universality. However, I have not yet been able to create something that reaches that level.
What kind of message do you want to share with the world through your work?: I believe that making things for others is a noble act. There is a richness that comes from creating from natural materials and traditional techniques. I try to convey the joy and value of making things, which is inspired by the beauty and abundance of Japan.

Tomoya Hyodo is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2000