美山町の萱葺き職人 Thatch Roofers in Miyama, Kyoto

On June 12, I had the opportunity to interpret for a couple of thatch roofers, Shiozawa-san and Nakano-san. During the morning session, Shiozawa-san taught students from the US about the knots and tools used to thatch roofs in Japan. Nakano-san created a model roof and demonstrated how materials are used.
In the afternoon, Nakano-san spoke about the roofs he's thatched, many of which are cultural heritage sites. Shiosawa-san spoke about the greater ecological and social significance of thatch roofing in Japan.

Nakano-san making a bamboo needle used to thatch roofs

Storage of reeds and grasses used for thatching

Further details can be found at the following websites:
Shiozawa-san's homepage: http://www.kayabuki-ya.net
Nakano-san's homepage: http://www.cans.zaq.ne.jp/miyama-kayabuki/

佐野オトリ店 山梨県南巨摩郡南部町 茅葺屋根 Japanese Thatch Roofing

November 25-26 helped Sano-san with the re-thatching of his 300 year old home.

Sano-san and Kyle last spring

Sano-san is the quinsential Hyakusho (百姓). He grows rice and vegetables for his family, and produces tea and raises Ayu fish for income. In his lifetime, this is the third time he’s thatched his home. Last spring I helped Sano-san with the thatching of the hira (平), the plane of the roof. This time work was done on the mune (棟), the ridge.

Ridge uncovered revealing 30-year-old straw

New Ridge Cover

Re-thatching the ridge

五箇山 茅葺屋根 Japanese Thatch Roofing

November 21-22 attended a thatching workshop in Gokayama (五箇山), Toyama Prefecture sponsored by the Japan Thatch Roof Culture Association directed by Professor Kunihiro Ando of Tsukuba University. Gokayama is famous for it’s thatch roofs, and as a result, is a world cultural heritage Center.

Structure of thatch roof characteristic of Gokayama. In order to secure the ridge thatching, two poles cross under the ridge as opposed to Shirakawago's (白川郷) single pole. Notice the structure is lashed together with straw rope, vines, and small young trees twisted and beaten into lash.

Twisting

Pounding

Lashing

Cedar Bark Used as Siding