Paper Title
Modern Apprenticeship of Japanese Traditional Carpentry

Abstract
This study proposes the descriptive development of traditional apprenticeship in traditional Japanese carpentry to analyze its nature and critical element(s) for transmitting traditional knowledge in a modern setting. A qualitative research method was employed for data collection. In-depth interviews with master carpenters and governmental officers and fieldwork on construction sites were conducted along with documentary research. The finding suggests that traditional apprenticeships were adapted to survive the social changes and became more flexible; for instance, new forms of education in the company and private school. However, the most crucial study process, observation-imitation, is still the core of the study in any institution. Keywords - traditional Japanese carpentry, apprenticeship, traditional knowledge, knowledge transmission