Skilled in fine wood turning with the "Kuseganna" handplane, Hisao Saito creates miniature tea sets and traditional Japanese wood toys. He is the sole craftsman in Odawara today capable of crafting these miniature tea sets. The precision of Hisao’s work is renowned. His wood parts are so precisely made, a Japanese spice making company, who was using a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) woodworking machine for their spice container, switched back to Hisao’s, because his wood parts allow for an exact fit, yet a smoother opening and closing of the container cap. At over 80 years of age, Hisao has a wealth of experience in fine woodturning with the Kuseganna handplane and continues to explore new frontiers in precision craftsmanship.
“Kuseganna” is a specialized handplane with a curved blade used by Japanese woodworking craftsmen. It is primarily used for shaving curved surfaces and complex shapes of wood. Kuseganna is a tool for performing very delicate work, and mastering it requires specialized knowledge and experience.
Hisao Saito
Master Fine Woodturner
Saito Woodworks
Narita, Odawara
