Inside the Japanese House: Part II

The Japan Society of Boston is proud to present , a three-part series exploring traditional Japanese homes through the lens of Architecture, Culture, and Handcraft. The series will be hosted by Adam Zgola, a carpenter specialized in traditional Japanese wooden construction with over two decades of experience in Japan.Inside the Japanese House

Part I covered Adam’s early experiences as an apprentice craftsman in Japan. We discussed the opportunities and challenges of a Japanese apprenticeship, a process that results in a unique insight in the importance of tradition in handcraft and the responsibilities of craftsmen in the context of culture and society.

Part II will delve directly into the Japanese house. We will focus on two styles of traditional Japanese architecture; minka, the farmhouse, and machiya, the merchant house. Beyond just buildings styles, these are a cultural heritage that can be used to more deeply understand the the traditions from which…