Learning about Kesen Daiku

June 17, 2024

The first day of my internship in Rikuzentakata began with an introduction to the traditional woodworking craft known as Kesen Daiku. The program was arranged by my father’s friend, who works as a regional coordinator connecting visitors from outside the city with local residents. 

We visited the Sakan Denshoukan, a building constructed using Kesen Daiku techniques. The technique dates back to the Edo period and involves interlocking wooden joints without the use of adhesives or nails. It’s a skill passed down over generations, and some structures built this way remained standing even after the 2011 earthquake.

My role today was to help staff prepare simple English translations that could be used to explain Kesen Daiku to international visitors. The phrases included basic facts about its history and structure, as well as short greetings and expressions commonly used during tours. The work itself was fairly straightforward, but I appreciated being able to contribute in a way that might help others understand this craft more easily.

Later, the staff invited me into their office. They offered me a cup of matcha and handed me a small postcard as a gift. It was an unexpected and deeply generous gesture that I still think about over a year later. 

During my short stay there, a minor earthquake occurred. I heard the sound before I felt the shaking. My first reaction was to tense up, but the two women beside me remained completely calm. One of them mentioned it was likely a level three earthquake and explained how she could tell by the strength and sound in the distance. I was struck by how familiar this was to them, not in a casual way, but as something they had learned to live with.

That moment stayed with me. It reminded me of how much this region carries, not just in memory but in the way people move through daily life. Even on the first day, I could sense how much there is to learn here, about resilience, history, and the kinds of skills that are both practical and deeply meaningful.