A Traditional Japanese Plaster approach.

 I (Ben) thought it might be nice to introduce a good friend of mine who we are hoping will be coming to the UK to teach some Traditional Japanese Plasterwork styles sometime this year.

Takao Kobayashi 

Principle Works: Restoration of Earthen Storehouse in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture; Restoration of Cultural Heritage Buildings & Extensive experience in everything from private homes to earthen storehouses and traditional Japanese cook stoves. 

Featured in numerous magazines: Comfort "Earth Plastering Book”, Comfort "Earth Plastering Power", CHIRUBINTO, and others.
Has also published articles in the monthly edition of Plastering Schoolhouse

I was fortunate enough to meet up with Kobayshi-san, Sakamoto-san and Kyle Holzhueter on a project at Harvest Haven farms out in Alberta, Canada last August (2011). On this particular project I was educating the class on the exterior application off Lime's, their applications in severe climates over a variety of substrates and the use of appropriate mixes and how to manipulate those mixes depending on site conditions, etc. Kobayshi-san was there to show us the application and processes behind some more decorative Traditional Japanese earthen plasters, one of those being Otsu. 

Otsu is a mix of lime and soil normally in the ratio of 3 parts soil to 1 part lime sometimes with the addition of fibre reinforcement like hemp. 

Due to the lime in the mix, this finish can be brought up to a high polish, and thats exactly how Kobayshi-san, Sakamoto-san and Kyle finished it. Another plaster  they showed the class was a seaweed lime plaster called Shikkui. A very durable traditional Japanese lime plaster with great tensile strength and bonding capabilities, that combines high calcium lime, seaweed extracts,natural plant fibres and in some cases some aggregates.

Kobayshi-san preparing the seaweed, while Sakamoto-san prepares the hemp fibres. Also, a little smile form little Noah and parents Mariko and Mark.

Kobayshi-san and Kyle applying clay plaster base coat.

Kobayshi-san meticulously finishing one of the Otsu plasters.

Kobayshi-san meticulously finishing the yellow Otsu plaster.

As I mentioned before we are hoping to get Kobayshi-san over to the UK sometime this year, we are also hoping to bring in an additional line of Japanese trowels, so watch this space.