Connecting traditional Japanese architecture with the next generation
- ops
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Sotaro Yoshikawa, who grew up watching his father, a master carpenter, talks about how he used SketchUp in an unprecedented project to "realize a client's dream tower. He shares his passion for preserving temples that serve as a "source of spiritual comfort".
What made you enter the world of shrine and temple architecture?
My father, Sukeyo Yoshikawa is a master carpenter for palace and shrines, and I grew up watching him and going to construction sites with him, learning carpentry little by little. I think it was a natural choice for me to become a palace and shrine carpenter. My father's achievements were widely praised, and I always heard about his fame. It was the thought that "my father's work is wonderful" that drew me into this world. To this day, my father is my greatest teacher.
This work of preserving Japan's cultural structures as Japan's heritage is the gift of our ancestors' wisdom and skills. Although there are only a few drawings remaining, most have been passed down orally. I believe that my mission is to continue this tradition and pass it on to the next generation.
Please tell us why you started using SketchUp and how has it helped your workflow?
In temple and shrine construction projects, we are always faced with various problems such as deadlines and technical specifications. In particular, to improve technical specifications, we have invested in high-spec PCs costing 2 to 2.5 million yen.
By introducing SketchUp, we have been able to scan large-scale point clouds and create 3D models very smoothly. The software allows us to create 3D objects as though we are sketching them. The most convenient and amazing aspect is how easy it enables users to manipulate models and create structures. It allows inspiration to flow easily.
My favourite feature in SketchUp is Push/Pull. When I used it for the first time, I was shocked at how easy it was to model. Sotaro Yoshikawa, CEO of Yoshisho Architecture and Crafts
SketchUp is currently used in almost all of our projects. Unless you are a very experienced user, no customer can get a sense of the actual image from just a drawing. On the other hand, 3D models created by SketchUp allow anyone to get a sense of the actual image at a glance.
Can you give us some examples of projects where you have used SketchUp?
I have used SketchUp in a variety of projects, including the renovation of the floats at Togo Shrine, Hachioji Shrine, Hachioji Minami-cho, Hachioji Yahata-cho, Ogose Hon-cho, and Ogose Kawara-cho, among others.
One of the most memorable projects in my career was bringing a tower to life — not from blueprints, but from a client’s dreams.
When the client sent me his hand-drawn sketch by fax, I knew this wasn’t just a typical design request. I visited the site and conducted a 3D scan of the environment. The point cloud data gave us an incredibly accurate foundation to work from, capturing every nuance of the surroundings.
Using SketchUp, we translated the sketch into a fully realized 3D model, harmonizing the client’s vision with the physical context of the site. The combination of traditional inspiration and cutting-edge technology allowed us to bring the tower from paper to reality.
I still remember the moment the structure began to take shape — the client was visibly moved. It was a powerful reminder that architecture isn’t just about building structures; it’s about honoring stories, dreams, and human connections.
One of the projects we will be working on in the future is to 3D scan the main hall of Myotsuji Temple, located in the mountains of Obama, surrounded by peaceful forests.
The temple’s Hondo main hall and three-tiered pagoda are designated National Treasures in Fukui Prefecture. Fukui is easily accessible via the Shinkansen, and although it is the only national treasure, the number of visitors has been low, which was an issue. Since it is a wonderful building, we hope that this will be an opportunity for many people to visit.
Can you share more details about using SketchUp Point Clouds?
Creating 3D models from point clouds helps us reach a consensus among various stakeholders. For example, the office staff can confirm the quantity of building materials, and the carpenters on-site can visualize the model for the customer. Since consensus can be reached among all stakeholders at every stage, the project can proceed smoothly from the start of construction to completion.
What do you think is the most important aspect for your work?
At first glance, the work we do as palace carpenters may seem to have been handed down traditionally without change, but I believe there are both things that can be changed and things that must not be changed, and that we must constantly make the judgment.
For example, parts that previously were done by hand with a saw have now been replaced with electric circular saws, but this is something that is "okay to change" in terms of improving efficiency.
On the other hand, I believe that the fact that "miyadaiku are at the cutting edge of all times" is something that "should not be changed." It is precisely because they have continued to pursue the cutting edge in every era that they have been able to leave behind such magnificent buildings.
Our mission is to connect traditional Japanese architecture to the next generation. With fewer and fewer successors available these days, we want to convey the joy of traditional architecture to young people in particular.
What advice would you give to the younger generation learning SketchUp?
In order to get the younger generation to use SketchUp, I tell them to "try it out first." By actually touching these tools, you can experience the changes and have fun.
I myself have always loved sketching, and the modeling process is what I enjoy most in my current job. I am so into SketchUp that I even use it to kill time on the train, and I am teaching my children how to use it too. They seem to be having a lot of fun using it, outputting modeled data on a 3D printer to create mysterious cubes. As mentioned above, I think it's interesting to be able to experience changes by "touching" it.
Since its founding in 1975, Yoshisho Architecture and Crafts has consistently worked on shrine and temple architecture, which is the core of Japanese architecture. In 2023, the company's master carpenter, Sukeyo Yoshikawa was awarded the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award in recognition of his contributions to cultural heritage protection through the preservation and repair of national treasures and important cultural property buildings (mainly in the Kanto region), and training the next generation of architects.
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