Arizan: Tapered Sliding dovetail masterclass- KOITOYA Woodworking Class 2026

This is a 1-day course

$465

27 September, Sunday, 2026

New!

Lecture series, knowledge, and skills focused class, best for intermediate, beginners welcome.

This is a special occasion to learn about exceptional traditional joinery!

Content

This is a new masterclass on Tapered sliding dovetail joinery.

Our aim is to pass on the knowledge of Sliding Dovetail joinery and how it has made properly.

This workshop is based on lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experience.

Best suited for advanced woodworkers who want to bring back this special and traditional technique. Beginners are welcome.

What is "Arizan"?

"Suitsuki-Arizan" refers to the Sliding Dovetail joinery, especially for bracing wide panels.

In olden days, the joinery was often applied in traditional gate door making, "Tokoita" floorboards or singular wooden slab used in a Tokonoma space (alcove space in Japanese room), large temple doors, and of course in traditional table making.

Being able to apply this skill is highly regarded in Japan.

This sliding dovetail joinery is not just simple parallel angle cut. It also has slow taper to wedge itself in.

How much is that tapered angle? How do you make it so perfect? How tight it has to be? All the secrets and how-to will be revealed in this workshop.

What you can gain

1. A textbook about Sliding Dovetails

2. Hands-on knowledge about Japanese traditional sliding dovetail joinery with modern routing methods

3.Theoretical knowledge about the applications of sliding dovetails.

What kind of work involved

1. Hand router, Table router for tapered sliding dovetail

2. thicknesser work to create taper jig

Safety

1. All the tools will be well instructed and operated under supervision.

Dates (1 occasion)

27 September (Sun)

Time

9:00-12:00 + 13:00-16:00, 6 hours

* Please be flexible with your schedule after the class. Sometimes your project requires extra time to complete.

Proposed schedule

Day 1

AM: Lecture 1, Demonstration for dovetail groove

PM: Demonstration & Hand- on trial for dovetail tenon. Jig making.

Lecturer

Hiroshi Yamaguchi (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)

30 years of experience. Learned in Takayama, Japan.

About Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Fee

$465

Class size

Maximum 6

Location

Koitoya Design/Make/Teach (Fyshwick, ACT)

Address

4/18 Maryborough Street, Fyshwick ACT 2609

Parking

Please park your car in the public parking area along Maryborough Street (Free), opposite J Racing.

We have two parking spots officially. Please contact me for the spot if you need to walk less for your health condition.

Way to the workshop

18 Maryborough Street is a battle axe block, located inside of the block, so you will be walking down a long driveway that leads to the block from Maryborough Street.

The driveway has 2 access points one near to Aqua Safe Water Filters, and one next to J Racing.

Unit 4 is a blue colourbond building on the right-hand side of the block.

Things to bring

Please wear working shoes.

Bring your own water bottle and lunch.

Things to be supplied

Tea and coffee, snacks, filtered water

Refund Policy

Personal cancelation

Refunds up to 14 days before the event

Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.

for more information, please contact Hiroshi

koitoya@gmail.com / 0412340619

Sliding dovetail jig

Contact the host of Arizan - Tapered Sliding dovetail - KOITOYA Woodworking Class 2026