A
Japanese artisan would never refer to his instruments as tools. Not even power
tools would be given this mundane title. The word dogu, for which there is no accurate translation, roughly means
instruments of the way of carpentry. This ancient term was barrowed from the
tea ceremony (instruments of the way of tea) and it is not used for any other
craftsman’s tools, this enables us to understand more clearly the amount of
respect ones dogu should be given,
almost revered. The skill to use these instruments properly Will take between 5 and 15
years to acquire working 80 hours a week. It is only after such a time that one
may be called a master carpenter.
