Week of 1 September 2026
Published 5 September 2026
This issue notes interlocking-strip kumiko versus laser-cut pictures, and the books, museums, and catalogs in current use.
1. Where to start
What is kumiko, the four pattern pages from the Patterns hub, and Hand vs CNC vs laser. Sources lists the books, museums, and catalogs.
2. Books, museums, and catalogs
Toshio Odate, Making Shoji (Linden, 2000) — still the English apprenticeship voice, including an asanoha transom. Desmond King, Shoji and Kumiko Design, Book 1 and the later pattern volumes — still the most detailed making notes outside Japan. Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum’s KIGUMI materials — still the careful museum sentence (“said to date back to the Kamakura period”). Tanihata and Yoshihara catalogs — still the place named patterns are sold under names that can be quoted.
3. Sheet versus strips
A laser-cut sheet with an asanoha graphic is a lattice graphic. Interlocking strips assembled as kumiko are a different object. The distinction is materials.
4. Prints
Geometry posters and a glossary booklet are listed as coming soon on Shop.
Further issues will follow new exhibitions, reprints, or maker publications.