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I am a 78 years old Japanese model ship building enthusiast.

Wanglius san

Thank you very much for your wonderful post.
I really appreciate your introduction of so many Japanese ships and their related websites.


KingDaddyo san

Thank you for your interest in Japanese ships.
As a Japanese, I would recommend the Higaki Kaisen kit.
It is also available for overseas purchase.

In addition, I once assisted with the building of a Higaki Kaisen on the forum that Mr. Hunt of Lauck Street Shipyard used to host, so I can also send you the reference materials from that time.

Woody Joe Overseas Sales
https://woodyjoe.shop-pro.jp/?mode=sk#overseas

Higaki Kaisen
https://img07.shop-pro.jp/PA01355/556/product/104473077.jpg?cmsp_timestamp=20160915165310

That’s all, thank you in advance.

Additional note: A junk is a Chinese ship, while Japanese ships are called wasen.
 
rtwpsom2 san

Thank you for your post.
I appreciate you providing information that even I, as a Japanese person, did not know.
It’s true what they say: the lighthouse is darkest at its base.


All,

By the way, the kit isn’t nearly this complicated.
Since you just have to attach the planks, those who are planning to build the kit need not worry.
Also, I would like to introduce a reference book.
Nowadays, it’s easy to translate things quickly.
If you’re interested, please give it a read.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/日本の船を復元する-古代から近世まで―復元するシリーズ〈4〉-GAKKEN-GRAPHIC-DELUXE/dp/4054016502?language=en_US

This is a typical website explaining traditional Japanese ships.

https://www.kitamae-bune.com/about/main/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
 
I stand corrected on the ship name, my apologies. What does Wasen translate to? I watched the first couple of videos posted by Tanaka Takanao on the Higaki Kaisen. He is very skilled as the videos clearly show. I am very interested in the Higaki Kaisen as my next kit to build. I have bookmarked it to order soon so I will have it on hand when ready. It is available on Amazon thru the Woody Joes store.
I can see joining this forum was a great idea. You meet diverse people with so many skill levels! The most important thing is all the help you all offer as I learn and build!
 
King Daddyo san

Wasen is a traditional Japanese wooden sailing ship or a small hand-rowed boat. Its structure is entirely different from that of a Chinese junk.
During the Edo period, Wsen were categorized as Hishigaki-kaisen, Bezai-sen, and Kitamae-fune. Like Virginia sloops or Bermuda sloops in the West, these ships share the same basic design, with only minor variations in details.
For more information, please refer to the website I shared in my previous post. If possible, I also recommend reading books on the subject. Modern translation tools make this process quick and convenient.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/日本の船を復元する-...N-GRAPHIC-DELUXE/dp/4054016502?language=en_US

北前船とは | 北前船 KITAMAE 公式サイト【日本遺産・観光案内】

北前船とは 大阪と北海道を結んだ経済動脈 ①江戸時代中期（18世紀中ごろ）〜明治30年代 ②大阪と北海道を、日本海回りで ③商品を売り買いしながら結んでいた商船群 北前船は、そういう動きをしていた商船を総称する呼び名です。 ポイントは「売り買いしながら」……単に荷物の運搬をしていた船ではない、 ということです。寄港地で「安い」と思う商品があれば買い、 それが高く売れる港では積み荷を売りさばきながら、 大阪と北海道の間を航海していました。
www.kitamae-bune.com www.kitamae-bune.com

I look forward to seeing your Hishigaki-kaisen. These ships are structurally very different from Western sailing ships. In particular, when they are hauled ashore, the mast is lowered, and the rudder is also lifted toward the stern.

Thank you very much.

Postscript　和船=wasen　菱垣廻船＝higakikaisen　弁財船=bezaisen
船＝sen or fune
 
Masaaki Hikosawa san (did I say that correctly?)

I will be ordering the Hishigaki-kaisen soon. Will keep you informed as I receive and open box to review it. I did look at the book and will order it as well. Google Translate does make it much easier to negotiate other languages. The launch I am building right now, all of the large scale prints are in Italian and I use my phone for reading the prints!!

I will be watching many more of the Tanaka Takanao YouTube videos on the Higaki Kaisen. I think I will learn much from his building techniques. I think, initially I am intimidated by his skill level. All the more reason to not only watch them, but watch them closely and follow them while building mine when I get it.

Appreciate your guidance and conversation!! I am also going to be buying the Woody Joe 1/50 Nikko Toshogu Shrine Yomeimon Wooden Model. I love the artistic detail and overall beauty of the shrine and think it will be a challenging build for me to do it justice.

Respectfully,
Eugene Keith
 
OK, progress photos. I have taken the temp bulkheads out. Sanded the remaining portion of the bulkheads level for fitting the floor in. I have pre-sanded the port and starboard sides with 80-100 grit. Then I applied wood filler to all rough areas and re-sanded with 120 grit. Once I had it down to a better finish I started with the starboard side and fine filled wood filler to all visible small linear gaps. I then sanded this down again with 120 grit. Then I went over the starboard side again to touch up any minor gaps I missed and then sanded it down with 120 grit again. It looked well filled as far as no visible gaps so I worked my way from 180-220-320 and now I think it might be good enough. (I keep reminding myself, don't let prefect get in the way of good enough) I now have to start the same process for the port side. Once I'm done with that I'll do the inside and outside of the transom and then go onto the interior walls and lower deck surface. I have decided to go shopping for a single piece of wood that will let me build the cap rail. I'm going to match the kit wood and trace the hull outline on a single piece of wood and then cut it to shape to fit along the cap rail location. This should give me a cleaner look, not have to cut and fit several pieces and not have to deal with bending thicker wood. Once the cap rail is in place and before I finish it, I'll use an exacto knife and etch lines where the joints would have been. Should have the same finished look.

Slow but good progress.

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PXL_20250908_233136763.jpg
 
OK, so I changed my mind. I went back and followed the 400 grit up with 800 and then 1500 grit. Now I have to go find someone with a baby tomorrow so I can see if it is as smooth as a baby's butt..... I have to admit, theres a substantial difference between the finish on 400 grit and 1500 grit!! On to the port side.
 
King Daddyo san ,

My name is Masaaki Hikosawa.
彦沢 = HIKOSAWA, 正明 = MASAAKI.
Therefore, you have written my name correctly.
Additionally, “the Hishigaki-kaisen” is incorrect.
The proper term is 菱垣廻船 = Higaki-kaisen.

I am very pleased that you have taken an interest in Japanese ships, wasen.
By referring to the book I introduced and the kit’s instruction manual, you should be able to complete it without any difficulty.
Please pay particular attention to the finishing of the stern, as it is easy to make mistakes in this area.
I am attaching a photograph for your reference:
1757400358269.jpeg
https://www.oceandictionary.jp/z/z23000/z23613.jpg

For your information, here are URLs for a wasen preserved on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, where I reside:
https://www.visitsado.com/event/3544/

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=453f87096d44fbd1&sxsrf=AE3TifPkbC_vDv-wjUH54mpvyY39kiPRzw:1757399060783&udm=7&fbs=AIIjpHzMeWLHhiYizDqllP6shc4y4UUCaI3quTWbnoCuZpW64fKPvoQPOwVLnLctdj9U3xe0wHfy3GdwOPqqqivnTql1racnoV9xT9CZS57lRB3RQ2ZKTjaamKaSt4Pj5zu-h7O6MrpQ9uHythkIc5dToakoz6PbqVLDW9fwGrit4bJ-CZMWQ-TV7MbuCtK47lIFz_9UtWItEnRWhYnDOoLuOm6UwRxtYBMjlRg039gthGgWJn6WBEQ&q=佐渡白山丸&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiYnPzVhcuPAxWgoq8BHVBEHpcQtKgLegQICBAB&biw=1200&bih=486&dpr=1.6#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b432cfed,vid:GaRV3NHwLpY,st:0

Finally, the photograph you posted appears to be of the kit you are currently constructing.
I am greatly looking forward to seeing the completed model.

Yours sincerely,
Masaaki Hikosawa
P.S. "The materials I attached are brochures from the now-closed Museum of Maritime Science. Therefore, there are no copyright issues."
 

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