Kanna - Japanese plane setting

This is a 2-day course

$550+ Japanese plane of your pick

8 -9August 2026

Skill focus class, suited for beginer, intermediate, people interested in Japanese plane

Buy new plane from us or bring your own!

Content

Setting a Kanna, Japanese plane properly in 2 days.

Plane blade sharpening skills.

Thin shaving trial!

Option to purchase a Japanese plane from traditional tools shop, Inoue Hamono in Tokyo.

KANNA- Japanese Plane Setting

Kanna is the word for plane in Japanese.

The Japanese style of hand plane differs from the western style in a couple of keyways. The first way is about Japanese plane blade and its setting, including different much lower angle setting, ability to cut so smooth by its hard Japanese steel. The second is that the body of the plane is made of timber and requires special knowledge to tune the "dai", sole of the block.

Option to purchase Kanna from Inoue Hamono Ten

Inoue Tokio, 77 years old, owns a traditional style hand tool shop in Koto-ward in Tokyo, a small but genuinely nice old wooden merchant house. The business has been run more than 100 years. Inoue had background of working as metal supplier in young days, which made him specialized in steel quality control when it comes to exchange with black smith he dealt with. He saw and encountered numbers of legendary black smith and good carpenters just after the war. It is fascinating to hear his story when you visit the shop. He also runs "Shuko-kai" study group and teaches young people to pass his knowledge to the next generation.

Japanese Plane - limited order

We will have planes sent to us from Inoue. Aogami (Blue) Steel. Inoue's tools always have high quality steel. Yet, he keeps the price reasonable. They do not have a fancy name on or made by special black smith, but it is made for professional usage with quality.

Handle is made of Japanese Oak called Shira-Kashi.

You can have one choice of your chisel or simply bring your own Japanese tools with you.

We do not usually take tool orders, so this will be a limited opportunity.

Although, reflecting the situation of declining numbers of black smiths, and higher world wide demand, in recent few years of increase in price has been affecting all the tool suppliers. I often think sooner is better to purchase if you are thinking to purchase one.

Available Japanese planes through this workshop
Using Aogami (Blue) Steel. For laminated soft steel, it is using unique "Jigane" (Soft steel) with quenched using natural charcoal, making it easier to sharpen.

Mamehira Sunshi(60mm) plane: $409
- This is good middle size plane that is quite useful in it's size for furniture making
- This is one of my recommendation size, slightly small than usuall for practical usage. (It says Mamehira = Small, but it is normal size plane)
Mamehira 48mm, long block(240mm) plane: $332
- Special longer block than usual, hard to get, ideal for box making
- Again, recomended longer block gives you much accurate usage.

You will gain the following from signing up

Leaning about the proper setting for Kanna
Kanna set up and ready for use
Details knowledge only you can gain from hands-on workshop
Supplied Kanna from Inoue Hamono (option)

Dates

2 day Course

8- 9 August 2026

Time

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

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

Schedule

Day 1

AM: Lecture about Kanna, / Lapping and sharpening Kanna blade
PM: Setting blade to the "Dai" block

Day 2

AM: Setting chipbreaker
PM: Tuning the sole / Test shaving!

Lecturer

Clare Solomon (KOITOYA Design/Make/Teach)

Koitoya full time furniture maker.

Graduated from ANU School of Art, Furniture. Clare has been 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

$550+ Japanese plane of your pick

Class size

Maximum 10

Location

Koitoya Design/Make/Teach (Fyshwick, ACT)

New 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 a 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 access points, one next to Aqua Safe Water Filters

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

Things to bring

Bring extra warm clothes in case of cold weather.

Please wear work shoes.

Bring your own water bottle and lunch.

Things to be supplied

Tea and coffee, snacks, filtered water

Small heaters

Refund Policy

Personal cancelation

Refunds up to 14 days before event

Humanitix fee is nonrefundable.

for more information, please contact Hiroshi

koitoya@gmail.com / 0412340619

Contact the host of Kanna - Japanese Plane setting - Koitoya Woodworking Class 2026