The Atelier

Each piece, handcrafted by a single artisan.

Every KUMIKI piece is made entirely by hand. At 1.6mm, the walls sit on a boundary — one shaving too many and the wood cracks; one too few and the joints will not close. Only an artisan’s hands can find that line. Every photograph on this page was taken in our actual workshop.

Artisan joining arare-gumi corners of a hinoki masu by hand — Fitting the arare-gumi joints

The world’s smallest hinoki masu with 1.6mm walls — 1.6mm walls — the world’s smallest masu

Precision handwork on hinoki masu jewelry — The corners decide everything

Final finishing of a hinoki masu jewel — The last touch, also by hand

Arare-gumi — a structure without nails

The small interlocking teeth at each corner of the masu are called arare-gumi. No nails, no glue — wood holds wood. It is the same structural idea that has kept Japanese temples standing for 1,300 years.

KUMIKI performs this technique on a masu just 2cm wide. A single joint measures less than a millimeter.

Why only ten a month

Our atelier completes no more than ten pieces a month. There are faster ways to make things. We have not chosen them — the time spent with each masu is what becomes its precision.

Every piece is made to order. We begin joining yours only after you place it, which is why delivery takes 2–4 weeks.

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