Inside Japan’s Insane Woodworking Competition | Kezuroukai

Kezuroukai（削ろう会） is a Japanese competition where people use a kanna (Japanese hand plane) to compete for the thinnest wood shaving in Japan. I’m a working carpenter in Japan, and this was my first time competing. In our everyday work, we don’t usually try to make shavings this thin. The sharpening and adjustment needed for thin shaving is much more precise than what we normally need on a jobsite. It’s such a serious competition that even Japanese carpenters can feel nervous about entering. I knew about Kezuroukai for years, but honestly, I was nervous too. Before I went, I imagined a very serious place with a lot of tension. But when I actually joined, it was completely different. People were friendly. If I asked a question, they would answer. People I had never met before would just start talking with me. Everyone was there because they love kanna and woodworking. Kezuroukai is held in different places around Japan. In June 2026, it was held in Miki City, Hyogo, a city famous in Japan for its blades and tools. Today, power tools have become a big part of carpentry, and we have fewer chances to use traditional hand tools. There are even carpenters in Japan who rarely use a kanna anymore. I hope events like Kezuroukai can make more people interested in kanna, Japanese woodworking, and hand tools. And I hope these skills can be passed on to the next generation and remain for many years to come. I also hope this video helps people around the world discover this small but amazing part of Japanese craftsmanship. #Kezuroukai #削ろう会 #鉋 #JapaneseWoodworking #JapaneseCarpenter #Kanna #JapaneseTools