Tadao Arimoto Apprenticeship

Tadao Arimoto is a master Japanese woodworker and furniture designer who has practiced his craft in Pittsburgh, PA for 40+ years. I spent a summer working full time one-on-one with Arimoto, helping him through every stage of the furniture design & fabrication process. Through this experience, I studied furniture techniques and practiced traditional Japanese woodworking skills.

Duration

Summer 2022

About Tadao Arimoto

Trained in industrial design at the International Design Institute in Kyoto, Arimoto relocated to Pittsburgh in 1977 and has since spent 40+ years mastering his craft designing and building contemporary Japanese furniture.

"In an anthropocentric landscape dominated by right angles, Tadao’s work draws on the beauty and strength of organic structures. His use of natural materials explores the passage of time as measured by ancient trees and ageless stones."

Arimoto's longtime studio is located in the Chateau neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. He creates "functional, everyday objects inspired by the diversity of forms and processes in nonhuman nature."

Selected Projects

Church Altar

A Japanese church altar designed and fabricated for Shumei USA in Kutztown, PA. Sliding shoji doors enclose the altar's shrine while two hidden cabinets store ceremonial objects.

My role in the project included the install of plywood panels, the fabrication of the altar's deck, the fabrication of cabinet boxes, the install of door hinges and slides, trim and molding work, and assisting with final install.

Restaurant Table

A hickory table designed and fabricated for Noodlehead, a Thai noodle restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA.

I provided insight on the design and fabricated the table from start to finish. I milled the lumber, glued up the table top, and joined the leg structures.

Conference Table

This 21-foot long conference table was designed for Duolingo's new corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA.

My role consisted primarily of lumber preparation, milling and gluing up the table top. I prepared surfaces for finishing and helped apply finish. I assisted with the final install of the piece.