Norman Pirollo from WoodSkills shared the woodworking tip featured in this video.
Kumiko is a traditional Japanese woodworking art form that relies on precise angles and interlocking wood strips to create intricate geometric patterns without the use of nails or glue at every joint. In this video, Norman walks through the Asanoha pattern, one of the most recognizable Kumiko designs, breaking down the concept so it becomes approachable for woodworkers of any skill level once the underlying logic is understood.
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What Is Kumiko?
Kumiko refers to a style of Japanese joinery where thin strips of wood are arranged into decorative lattice patterns. The technique has been used for centuries in screens, doors, and room dividers, prized for both its visual appeal and the craftsmanship required to execute it cleanly.
Norman explains that while the finished patterns can look complex, they are built from a series of repeated angles and small joints. Once a woodworker understands how those angles connect, replicating the pattern across a larger panel becomes a matter of consistency and patience.
Understanding the Asanoha Pattern
The specific design covered in this video is known as Asanoha, a pattern inspired by hemp leaves that is one of the most popular motifs in Kumiko work. It is made up of a network of diagonal pieces that intersect at consistent angles to form a repeating star-like grid.
Norman notes that Asanoha is a great starting point for anyone new to Kumiko because the geometry, while detailed, follows a predictable system. Once the first few intersections are cut and fitted correctly, the rest of the pattern tends to fall into place.
Tools and Routing Jigs
A major focus of the video is on the specialized routing jigs needed to cut the angled components that make up the lattice. These jigs allow for consistent, repeatable cuts at the specific angles required for the Asanoha grid, which would be extremely difficult to achieve freehand.
Having the right jig for each angle used in the pattern removes a lot of the guesswork and makes the process far more approachable. Norman emphasizes that investing time in setting up these jigs correctly pays off across the entire project, since the same cuts are repeated many times over.
Building the Lattice Components
With the jigs in place, Norman moves on to producing the individual strips that form the outer grid and the internal pieces that create the star pattern. A thickness sled, covered in more detail in a previous video, is used to ensure every strip is uniform, which is critical for a tight, consistent fit throughout the lattice.
Working through the joint areas and varying strip lengths, Norman demonstrates how the outer framework is assembled first, followed by the interior components that complete the Asanoha design. Precision at this stage is what allows the finished pattern to sit flush and look seamless.
Applying Kumiko to a Cabinet Door
To show how this technique can be used in a real project, Norman presents a finished example where a Kumiko panel has been incorporated into a cabinet door. This practical application highlights how a decorative lattice insert can elevate a simple piece of furniture into something with real visual interest.
Seeing the pattern set into a functional piece also helps put the earlier steps into context, showing how the carefully cut strips and angled joints come together to form a panel that can be framed and installed just like any other door insert.
Why This Technique Is Worth Learning
Kumiko offers woodworkers a way to add a distinctive, handcrafted detail to otherwise simple furniture pieces. The Asanoha pattern in particular is a manageable entry point into this art form, especially once the correct jigs and a reliable thicknessing method are in place.
For anyone looking to add a unique decorative element to cabinet doors, screens, or standalone panels, this approach provides a solid foundation to build on, with room to experiment with other Kumiko patterns once the basics are mastered.
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Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
Kumiko is one of those techniques that looks intimidating from a distance but makes a lot more sense once you see the system behind it, which is exactly what Norman does a good job breaking down here. The key thing to keep in mind going in is that this is a precision game from start to finish. Even a half-degree of error in your jig setup gets multiplied across dozens of joints, so it’s worth double-checking your angles before you commit to cutting a full set of strips.
On the material side, Kumiko strips are typically cut from straight-grained, stable species like Japanese cypress, basswood, or spruce. If you’re sourcing domestic wood for a project like this, look for tight, straight grain with minimal runout. Anything prone to warping will throw off your fit, especially since these strips are so thin and rely on tension to stay locked in place rather than glue at every joint.
A thickness sled is a smart call for this kind of work. Even a $20 planer can leave slight variations strip to strip, and when you’re fitting dozens of pieces into a tight lattice, consistency matters more than raw precision. If you don’t have a dedicated sled yet, it’s a worthwhile shop project on its own before diving into Kumiko.
Safety-wise, you’re working with small, thin pieces near spinning blades and bits, so push sticks, featherboards, and sacrificial fences are your friends here. It’s slow, methodical work, which honestly fits the spirit of Kumiko anyway. Patience pays off more than speed on a project like this.