Japanese Carpentry Scarf Joint Kanawa Tsugi 金輪継 Test Fit

Joining together two massive 7 and 5 meters long larch beams that has Japanese scarf joint Kanawa Tsugi in between them. Using this joint the two joined members have very high structural strength it is positioned parallel the grain instead of perpendicular as it is common in European carpentry. These joints have been cut using Japanese hand tools - ryoba saws, kanna planes and nomi chisels. It takes about 5 hours for experienced carpenter to make this joint on both members. This joint is also common in Europe and in French carpentry it is called the “french lock“ or “Trait de jupiter de menuisier“ in french. It is hard to say where this joint was originally designed and engineered - in Europe or in Asia/Japan....