Bento Box - Koitoya Woodworking Class 2026

Bento Box- Japanese Traditional Kerf Bend Box Making  - Woodwork for Fun

This is a 2 day course, 

$495

23-24 May, Sat - Sun, 2026

For anyone who wants to have fun and take a unique cultural piece home!

Technical aspects - kerf bending, Cherry bark stitching

Content

Making Japanese traditional style Kerf Bent Box

Well suited for beginners.

Well suited for people who loves Japanese cultural aspect. 

Bento Box

We Have renewed the Design Since Last year and are excited to share it with you.

Bento Box is a bent timber box used to carry lunch. There are a few different ways and stylers to make a bento box, in this class will make a Hiki-mage-wappa-kabatoji bento box.  
Mage-wappa bento box is the name of the traditional ring shape of the bento box, typically made of Sugi (Cedar)  or Hinoki (Cypress) that is abundant around Japan. 

"Hiki-mage" refers to the saw cuts used to create the curve in the timber, known as kerf bending in English. 
"Kabatoji" is wild cherry bark stitching seen running across the joint of the bento box, and was initially added to a rice paste or animal hide glue joint to strengthen it.  With modern glues the stitching it not needed for strength, but it has remained as a decoration.  The design of the stitching can have a meaning depending on the spacing and quantity of stitching.


   

You will gain the following from signing up

1. A Hikimage-wappa box with Kabatoji stitching, all made by yourself by hand.

2. Hands-on kerf bending experience. 

3. the opportunity to try cherry bark stitching.

Date 

23-24 May 2025, Saturday and Sunday

Time

2 days, 12 hours in total

Day 1: 9:00-12:00 | 13:00-16:00

Day 2: 9:00-12:00 | 13:00-16:00

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

Schedule

Day 1 

AM: Lecture, Picking the timber, practice plaining and cutting

PM: Bend box, Glue up

Day 2

AM: Finishing the inside of box, Glue Bass and lid, Prep stitching

PM: Stitching with cherry bark, Finish sanding and oil

Lecturer

Clare Solomon (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)

Koitoya full time furniture maker. 

Graduated from ANU School of Art, Furniture. Clare has been an active artist exhibiting their own work.

Clare has been working full-time with Hiroshi since 2016.

Clare has returned from Japan trip in 2023, where they stayed at Japanese woodworkers for further training.

Fee

$495

Class size

Maximum 10

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 from 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 through the driveway that leads to the block from Maryborough Street.

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

Unit 4 is a blue painted building on the right-hand side of the block (SE end).

Things to bring

Please wear working shoes.

Warm clothes - workshop can be quite cold in winter, early spring.

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

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