Japanese Woodworking Season 5 Episode release dates & where to watch

1. Strong Home Starts with the Sill

This episode of "New Build Season 5" focuses on the installation of sills, a crucial step in carpentry. The video follows Shoyan as they meticulously position and secure the sills on the foundation, ensuring a strong and level base for the house. The process involves careful measurements, marking, and drilling, highlighting the importance of precision in construction.

2. Pre-Framing Steps: A Carpenter’s Hand-Planed Finish Beyond Pre-Cut

This video follows a carpenter as they prepare for framing a new house. They hand-plane exposed pine beams, cut tenons for porch columns, and prepare hardware. The carpenter also discusses the importance of using a UNIC truck for unloading timber and the increased use of hardware for earthquake resistance.

3. Starting Interior Work! Hidden Details Impact Future Quality

This video details the crucial interior work on a new build. It covers fastening hardware, insulating the foundation for airtightness, and laying the subfloor. The carpenter explains the importance of each step for structural integrity, heat retention, and preventing future issues like creaking floors, highlighting the meticulous details involved in traditional Japanese carpentry.

4. Trendy Double-Glazing Windows Complete the Lock-Up Phase

This episode of New Build Season 5 focuses on installing the door and window frames in a modern house. The builder explains how the order of construction has changed, with diagonal braces now being installed over the subfloor, and discusses the benefits of this new approach. They also highlight the unique features of the front door, including its unusual blue color and electronic lock.

5. The Ultimate Insulation Challenge: Creating a Magic Flask-Like Home

This episode focuses on insulation and air-sealing techniques for a new house. The builder carefully installs fiberglass insulation and an airtight membrane, emphasizing the importance of using high-quality materials and proper installation techniques. They also conduct an airtightness test to ensure the house is well-sealed and energy-efficient.

6. I Didn’t Expect This to Happen... My Fault!

Shoyan is building a 5-meter-long box eave above a sliding glass door. They encounter a pair of swallows who nest in the house, and one gets trapped inside. Shoyan also explains the ventilation system and how they build the soffit frame. They encounter a challenge when installing the box eave, but they manage to complete it before it starts raining.

7. Bit Lost with These New Floorboards, But I’m Making It Work

This video follows Shoyan as they install flooring on the first floor of a new build. They begin by installing a unique entrance sill called a kamachi, then move on to laying knotty Hinoki cypress floorboards. The video highlights the challenges of working with these unique floorboards and the creative solutions Shoyan uses to overcome them.

8. Staircase Finishing Secrets: Small Adjustments That Matter

This video follows Shoyan as they build a straight staircase with a landing. They discuss the benefits of using pine for staircases and demonstrate their process for cutting, fitting, and securing the stringers, treads, and risers. The video also highlights some unique design elements, such as the landing's access from both sides.

9. Reviving Classic Craftsmanship through Counter and Wall Finishes

Shoyan, a Japanese carpenter, builds traditional fall prevention pony walls and a long, versatile ash wood counter using classic carpentry techniques like chisel sharpening and mortise and tenon joints. He details the construction of the pony walls with a camoy-style timber and a seamless trim, and meticulously crafts the counter, ensuring its durability with hidden support brackets. The completed project creates bright, functional spaces in the home.

10. Shaping the House with Precision: Solid Wood Jamb Extensions and Ceiling

This episode focuses on installing jamb extensions for windows, sliding doors, and the kitchen ceiling. The builder uses solid wood planks, carefully measuring and cutting them to fit the uneven floor and existing structures. They also install a drop bulkhead for the kitchen ceiling, which will be covered with cedar planks.

11. Open Kitchen with a Cozy Japanese Inspired Breakfast Bar

The video showcases the construction of a Japanese-inspired breakfast bar and pony wall in a modern open kitchen. The carpenter, Shoyan, builds an L-shaped pony wall, installs drywall, and then constructs the breakfast bar using ash wood. He emphasizes safety by rounding edges and meticulously hides screws with wooden plugs for a clean finish. The video concludes with the completion of the breakfast bar and a small niche in the front wall, highlighting how the addition enhances the kitchen's versatility and luxury.

12. Arches at the Entrance!? A Modern Twin Tunnel Design

This video follows a carpenter as they complete the interior joinery work for a new house. They focus on the entrance, building a shoe storage cabinet, a partition wall with arched openings, and a display shelf with a handrail. The carpenter explains their techniques and materials, highlighting the unique features of this modern design.

13. Surprise Visitor?! Working Hard on an American-Style Deck

Shoyan is building a large, American-style deck with a railing for a new home. They are using Hinoki cypress and focusing on simple joinery to prevent water damage. The video follows Shoyan as they frame the deck, encountering challenges like rain and a broken laser level.

14. Japanese Carpenter Builds an American-Style Deck!

In this video, Shoyan focuses on the final stages of building an American-style deck. He begins by prepping and cutting the deck boards, then constructs the stair framing, ensuring it matches the deck's appearance. He also fabricates the railing sections in his workshop before transporting them to the site. The video details the installation of the deck boards, emphasizing precise spacing and proper drainage. Finally, Shoyan installs the railing and cap rail, highlighting how the addition of the railing gives the deck its distinct American look. The project concludes with Shoyan expressing satisfaction with the final result and ensuring all surfaces are smooth and safe.

15. 5-Month Build of an American House by Japanese Carpenters

Experienced carpenter Shoyan completes a five-month build of a Western-style home, showcasing traditional and modern techniques. The build highlights meticulous craftsmanship, from foundation to finish, including detailed joinery and unique design elements. Watch a detailed timelapse of the construction process.