Port Townsend School of Woodworking (PTSW) is hosting its first Japanese Woodworking Festival on Saturday, August 15th, 2026, at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.
Inspired by Kezurou-kai, an annual festival in both the US and Japan, PTSW is gathering people who are passionate about Japanese woodworking and carpentry, sharpening, and hand tools. The festival will bring together tool makers, woodworkers, fans of Japanese culture, and curious passersby to celebrate craftsmanship, mentorship, and respect for tradition.
Throughout the day, there will be lectures on techniques, tools, and forestry, and Japanese hand tool demonstrations, allowing participants to use the tools themselves. Through this free event, PTSW hopes to offer broader access to and continued preservation of Japanese woodworking techniques. This theme is carried throughout all their programming, including indigenous woodworking, furniture making, and timber framing. PTSW offers both short-term courses and longer-term courses for those looking to make woodworking a career.