Carving Wood with a Nata: Japanese Woodworker Yohei Shiozaki Creates Unexpected Vessels

This time, we filmed the creative process and interview of Japanese woodworker Yohei Shiozaki, who carves wooden vessels using a nata hatchet.

■ Woodworker | Yohei Shiozaki
Yohei Shiozaki is a Japanese woodworker who carves wooden vessels with a nata hatchet. Rooted in his experience of living in the mountains of Oita and his longing for a self-sufficient way of life, he creates vessels while quietly facing wood. Drawn to Enku-butsu and nata carving, he values the accidental forms and unexpected expressions that emerge beyond his own imagination. Standing barefoot on the ground, he carves as if connecting the power of the earth to the nata. For Shiozaki, making vessels is not only a way of facing wood, but also a time to center himself and look inward.