About Dale Brotherton

In early March, I interviewed Dale Brotherton on behalf of Kezurou Kai USA. He is the owner and operator of Takumi Company based in Seattle. And, the man with whom I apprenticed from 1999 to 2008. It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss his inspirations and share his experiences with the Japanese woodworking community. 

He began woodworking in 1978.  He spent 6½ years in a traditional full time apprenticeship with a well known teahouse carpenter in the San Francisco Bay Area. This apprenticeship was a concentrated practice with traditional hand tools and learning refined joinery methods.

Dale then spent 2 years as a “journeyman” in traditional residential construction in Nagano-Ken, Japan. He expanded his skills, studying traditional building design and structural layout.

With nearly 9 years of intense study accomplished, Dale returned to the USA founding Takumi Company. He has remained committed to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship completing over 100 projects for private customers, institutions and municipalities. 

More about Dale Brotherton and his work can be found at Takumi Company’s website