Donated to SCVC by the family of Doug Ryan in 2025. 119 pages.
Making Shoji
Author: Toshio Odate; 2000, 119p
This book is for SCVC members only. Before requesting it, check the comments to see if another member has it. If unavailable, you can also look for a copy on Amazon.
Comments
If you have read the book, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a short review in the comments below to help others decide if they’d like to read it too.
2 responses to “Making Shoji”
-
Xiaohan checked out the book on November 13, 2025
-
Making Shoji is far more than a woodworking manual—it is an invitation to step into a different way of seeing and relating to the materials around us. One idea in the book that struck me deeply is the belief held by many Japanese woodworkers: wood is a living material, and therefore deserves to be treated with respect, patience, and appreciation. This perspective transforms woodworking from a technical craft into a dialogue between the maker and the material.
As someone who enjoys wood carving and similar forms of hands-on creation, I resonated strongly with this attitude. Working with wood is not just about producing an object; it becomes a process of self-reflection. The way I carve, shape, and refine a piece of wood inevitably reveals my inner state—my attitude, my temperament, and the values I bring to the work. There is an honesty in this relationship: wood does not lie, and it does not allow me to hide from myself.
The book helped me articulate something I have long felt but never fully expressed—the idea that craft can be a form of personal cultivation. When I work with wood with respect and intentionality, I am not only shaping the material; I am also shaping my mind.
Leave a Reply