Report on the workshop in California

The two workshops with Yataiki, held at the Arques Boat School in Sausalito, were a great success.  One picture is shown below, of Yataiki working at the new forge created for him.  An entire album of pictures taken by Jason Peace can be seen at: Jason Peace photos. 

The workshop participants closely watched as Yataiki  1)  forged a many layer billet of hard and soft steel.  A billet that might be used for making a yari-ganna (Japanese spear plane, sometimes yari-kanna).  2) Forged and shaped (with a sen) a Japanese yari-ganna and  3) Forged a sen.  A sen is a special hard steel tool used for scraping, especially in saw making.

The attendees made hammers from steel stock. The hammers were given a final fire hardening under Yataiki's direction.  One group participated in the making ten sets of blacksmith’s tongs which they took with them.  Because of time, some were finished, some need further work.  Through it all Yataiki worked hard at the forge the group built for him as though he couldn’t have been more happily occupied.  Participants said that it would be hard to describe the value of the experience of watching, having their work critiqued by Yataiki and carrying away tools with the mark of a world expert.  You’ll have to be there next time.

Many people spent their time and organizational skills to make the workshops
possible: Jay van Arsdale, Kayoko Kuroiwa, Robert Darr, Mark Grable, John Burt, Dave Burnard
plus a number of others who lent their time and labor. John and Dave deserve special
thanks for all the equipment they brought.