https://youtu.be/uAcefCZR6I8?si=X-V-6_hyUWuSXS9j
he Spirit of the Grain: Takami Kawai and the Art of Japanese Woodcraft
Synopsis: by Amol Mankeekar
In the heart of Kyoto, master carpenter Takami Kawai carries forward a tradition that has shaped Japan’s artistic and architectural landscape for centuries. A great-grandson of the legendary potter Kawai Kanjiro, Takami’s work is deeply rooted in a reverence for nature, craftsmanship, and the continuity of artistry through generations.
The Spirit of the Grain will follow Takami’s journey from his early fascination with space and wood to his mastery of traditional Japanese carpentry. Through intimate interviews and breathtaking visuals, the film will explore his philosophy of making, his thoughts on lineage and legacy, and the influence of his great-grandfather’s Mingei movement on his own approach to aesthetics and philosophy.
Viewers will step into the workshops of Suikoushya International Craft School, where Takami’s passion for teaching will come to life, as he passes down ancient techniques, through hands-on lessons, to students from around the world, emphasizing not just technical skill but an understanding of the deeper relationship between materials, space, and human presence and perseverence.
The film will follow Takami as he reflects on the his grandfather’s poems, the impermanence of everything from wood to life, the spiritual connection between the craftsman and his work, and the challenge of keeping Japanese woodworking traditions alive in an increasingly modernized world while working on restoring centuries-old kominkas and designing new wooden structures.
A meditation on artistry, heritage, and the soul of craftsmanship, The Spirit of the Grain will take the audiences on a journey into the mind and hands of a master who believes that true beauty lies in the patience of the process and the wisdom of the wood itself.
One line about student experiences and interviews across the world.