A top-down, minimalist shot showcases two pairs of handcrafted wooden chopsticks (hashi) resting vertically on a rustic, grained wooden surface.

Chopsticks Making Workshop

Instructor

Shintaro Oku 奥信太郎
(English/日本語)

Date & Time

Sunday, May 31, 2026

  • 11:00 – 12:30pm
  • 1:30 – 3:00pm

 

Fee & Registration

$35 + fees & taxes
20% off for members

All materials are provided.

Learn the traditional way to make Chopsticks out of precious wood from Japan.

Chopsticks (O-hashi) are essential tools that have been passed down through Japanese food culture since ancient times. In Japan, they are not merely utensils for eating; historically, they have been regarded as sacred objects used in Shinto rituals and offerings.

In this workshop, you will craft your own pair of chopsticks starting from raw timber using a Kanna (a traditional Japanese plane) to shave wood. You can choose from Hinoki (Japanese Cypress)—traditionally used in the construction of shrines and temples—or other fine woods from around the world.

This experience invites you to connect with the scent and texture of the wood while discovering the charm of Japanese woodworking and craftsmanship. The chopsticks that take shape in your hands will become a unique, one-of-a-kind set. We look forward to welcoming anyone with an interest in Japanese culture or the art of making.

お箸は、日本の食文化に古くから受け継がれてきた大切な道具です。 日本では、箸は食事のための道具であると同時に、古くは神事や供え物にも関わる特別なものとして伝えられてきました。

本ワークショップでは、神社仏閣の建築用材としても親しまれてきた『ヒノキ』や『世界の銘木』を用い、伝統的な木工道具である『鉋（かんな）』で木を削りながら、一膳のお箸を仕上げていただきます。木の香りや手ざわりにふれながら、日本の木工文化と手仕事の魅力を感じていただける時間です。

手の中で少しずつ形になっていくお箸は、世界に一つだけの特別な一膳になります。日本文化やものづくりに関心のある皆さまのご参加を、心よりお待ちしております。

奥信太郎は、日本で端材を活用した木製品ブランド「Koppa」を立ち上げた木工作家です。木の表情や素材の魅力を生かした作品づくりを続けながら、国内外で展示活動を行っています。2025年にはロンドンデザインフェスティバルに出展し、Wallpaper* にも掲載されました。ものづくりを通して、木のぬくもりや手で作る楽しさを伝えることを大切にしています。

About the Instructor

A medium-shot, eye-level photograph shows a smiling Japanese man standing behind a table of handcrafted wooden and ceramic items in what appears to be a shop or studio. He has short, dark, styled hair and a light goatee, wearing a dark grey haori over a patterned brown vest and a white t-shirt. He holds a wooden hand plane (kanna) in his right hand and a wooden mallet in his left.

Shintaro Oku

Shintaro Oku is a woodworker and the founder of "Koppa," a Japanese brand dedicated to creating wood products from offcuts and salvaged timber. His work focuses on highlighting the natural character and inherent beauty of the material. Oku exhibits his work in Japan and internationally; in 2025, he showcased his craft at the London Design Festival and was featured in Wallpaper* magazine. Through his craft, he aims to share the warmth of wood and the joy of making things by hand.
A wide, eye-level shot captures a craftsman at work in a rustic woodworking studio, focused on the traditional art of making chopsticks. The artisan, a man with dark hair wearing a white shirt and a splattered blue apron, leans over a long wooden workbench supported by sawhorses. He is using a traditional Japanese hand plane (kanna) to shave a thin piece of wood, with a small pile of light-colored wood shavings accumulating on the table. To his left are several wooden jigs or molds, and a green architect-style desk lamp is clamped to the right side of the bench, casting light on his workspace. The background features aged wooden walls and a stone foundation. On the wall behind him hangs a dark chalkboard with a grid and Japanese characters, likely a schedule or production chart. The overall mood is one of quiet, diligent craftsmanship within a traditional workshop setting.
A top-down, minimalist shot showcases two pairs of handcrafted wooden chopsticks (hashi) resting vertically on a rustic, grained wooden surface.