Newsletter · Summer 2026

A New Journey Begins

Selfie in front of a packed audience in a timber-framed barn at FRAME

Dear friends,

Welcome to the inaugural Kominka UK newsletter!

We are thrilled to report that the response to our first UK tour has been far greater than we ever imagined. From our opening lecture at The Japan Society, London through to Stratford-upon-Avon, Hooke Park and The Carpenter’s Fellowship event FRAME, I’d like to thank everyone who attended for their encouragement and curiosity.

When Andrea Carlson, Kunito Niwa and Koji Toda travelled to the UK from Japan earlier this month, we believed that there was already a growing interest in Japan’s traditional timber framed buildings. Yet we didn’t expect the breadth of that interest to be so far reaching; architects, carpenters, foresters, conservation specialists, students, craftspeople and academics - all with a shared curiosity for our shared, built heritage.

The valuable conversations which followed often led to remarkably similar questions: How do we build whilst caring for our landscapes? What can we learn from the past as we face the challenges of the future?

Conversations Along the Way

The tour began with a public lecture at the Japan Society in London, where Andrea Carlson, Kunito Niwa and I introduced the work of the Kominka Collective and the beginnings of Kominka UK. Despite the heat, more than 100 people joined us, including architects, craftspeople, students, conservation professionals and those with a wider interest in Japanese culture. The evening marked an important beginning. Kominka UK moved from being an idea into a shared public conversation; extending beyond architecture into questions of sustainability, repair, cultural exchange and the value of traditional knowledge.

After the Japan Society talk: guests talking beneath the closing slide — The Japan Society, London

Day two was spent with master carpenter Peter McCurdy in Stratford-upon-Avon inspecting the extensive restoration work being done by McCurdy & Co. on Hall’s Croft for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. During his introduction, Peter unexpectedly showed a photograph of a building I worked on over twenty-five years ago. It was a moment, but one that reminded me that friendships and opportunities often span generations. Many of the experiences that forged my own interest in Japanese architecture were made possible by people willing to share their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.

Three visitors in hard hats on the scaffold beside an exposed wattle-and-daub wall — Hall’s Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon

At Hooke Park, part of the Architectural Association, discussions with students continued long after the formal presentation had finished. We found ourselves talking about circular economy, bio-based materials, adaptive reuse and the responsibilities our generation carries as we respond to current environmental challenges. What struck me most was the openness and curiosity with which these ideas were explored; traditional buildings weren’t simply being discussed as relics of the past, but as a source of living ideas that might help shape a more considered and sustainable future.

Students gathered round a table of Japanese tools and books under a timber roof — Hooke Park, Architectural Association

Koji Toda joined us for the final part of the tour at the Carpenter’s Fellowship three-day annual event, ‘FRAME’, offered another perspective entirely. Alongside timber framers were foresters, dry stone wallers, woodland managers and craftspeople. The far-reaching conversations that followed reminded me that traditional crafts have never existed in isolation, rather that they have always been woven into the fabric of our close-knit societies, connecting communities with the wider natural world. Although we had all been brought together by a shared interest in Japanese architecture, we were talking about something much, much bigger.

Visitors looking at Japanese hand tools and a book on the stand at FRAME — FRAME, Carpenters Fellowship

Repositories of Knowledge

Throughout the tour, one idea continually resurfaced; Kominka are far more than beautiful old timber buildings - they are repositories of knowledge. And, as conversations unfolded, it became increasingly clear that these buildings are not simply artefacts to be preserved, they are themselves teachers.

Within each kominka lies a deep respect for the environment and an approach to building that remains relevant to this day. Every joint, every beam and every repair tell a story.

At a time when we are searching for more sustainable ways of building whilst grappling with biodiversity loss, traditional buildings remind us that resilience comes not only through new technologies, but through stewardship, creative reuse and a deep understanding of local resources.

Perhaps this is why such a variety of people from diverse backgrounds were all asking remarkably similar questions throughout the tour. Kominka can be a starting point for much wider conversations about the future of our built environment.

Visitors standing beneath the curved roof timbers of a kominka

Looking Forward

One of the ambitions behind Kominka UK is to help build new lasting relationships between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Over the coming months we plan to develop new partnerships by bringing together craftspeople and institutions, while exploring more opportunities for lectures, educational exchanges, study visits and collaborative projects.

We’ll also be sharing stories from Japan, photographs from the tour and updates as these new relationships begin to develop. We are delighted that the recording of our Japan Society presentation is now available, and we’ll include a link below for anyone who would like to share it.

Watch the Japan Society presentation

Finally, thank you all for witnessing the emergence of Kominka UK and continuing to be part of this journey.

With warmest wishes,
James Irvine
Director, Kominka UK