|
A love of woodworking has been part of Sam’s family for more than a century. He is a fourth-generation wood craftsman who
learned the closely-guarded secrets of traditional Japanese carpentry techniques from his father when he was a boy growing up in Okinawa. The elegance of these fabrication techniques creates sleek lines which are harmonious with natural settings, a concept which Sam later adapted to his own unique business venture in the United States.
Sam’s first California creation was a 40-foot yacht constructed entirely from scratch, a process which took ten years to complete. This accomplishment inspired his next brainchild: gazebos, which were conceived and rendered with the same structural integrity as the family’s traditionally built boats.
Sam’s “California Classic” designs are powerful, elegantly simple forms. The elimination of unnecessary visual elements allows the gazebos to mesh with casual and formal settings, as well as both traditional and contemporary architecture.
Today, Sam’s legacy lives on through both Sam and his father. Sam’s Gazebos ships product worldwide, and the line has been featured in many national and international publications. Sam’s father, who was honored with a national cultural award as well as regional awards, is now considered a living national treasure in Japan.
He has been building ships for museums and television productions for years. His latest commission, a 100-foot ship is displayed at a theme park in Okinawa. Sam is also planning to introduce his sleek wooden ships “Bunzi” for exclusive markets in the year 2005.
|
