I only studied with Asami for a short amount of time before going to Japan to learn how to use the kanna, Japanese plane, to make chairs, but it was enough to give me a small but solid platform to build upon. I wish I had more time with her! She was such a good teacher, the best language teacher I have ever had, and I am so grateful.

 

The visa I used was the cultural studies visa, which I think is up to 1 year, and is for people who want to learn about some form of Japanese culture. I love Japan and feel so humbled to be living learning and working alongside such a deep and important part of its history, the kanna is quite fundamental to Japanese woodwork, all shrines, shoji, housed, and furniture would have been kanna made, yet few now know about it. It might be reincarnating for the modern craftsman, as it is so sharp you don't need sandpaper.