Building My Japanese Torii Gates | Honoring a Master Craftsman

This project means a lot to me.

In this video, I’ll take you behind the scenes of building my Japanese Torii Gates — a project that celebrates craftsmanship, precision, and the joy of creating something meaningful.

These gates were built by my dear friend Gordon Plume, a 76-year-old master craftsman whose lamination work is second to none. This was Gordon’s final project before retiring, and it stands as a tribute to his lifetime of excellence and attention to detail.

You’ll see how we:
✅ Selected each rock and bolt with precision.
✅ Installed the gates using forklifts and teamwork.
✅ Celebrated Gordon’s legacy with the craftsmen who learned from him.

This isn’t just a story about construction — it’s about honoring mastery, humility, and the spirit of continuous improvement.

Lean thinking applies everywhere — even in the art of building something beautiful.

What You’ll Learn

How Lean principles apply to craftsmanship and design.
Why precision and teamwork matter in every project.
How to combine art, engineering, and gratitude.
The legacy of a craftsman who never stopped improving.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: My Japanese Garden Vision
00:30 – The Last Project of a Master Craftsman
01:00 – The Art of Perfection in Construction
01:35 – Installing the First Torii Gate
02:10 – Honoring Gordon’s Retirement
02:45 – Inside the Workshop of a Legend
03:25 – Final Reveal: A Masterpiece Completed
03:45 – Gratitude and Reflection

If you love craftsmanship and continuous improvement, share this video and subscribe for more real-life examples of Lean thinking in action.

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Check out the torii gates, built by Gordon Plume, of GR Plume (http://www.grplume.com/gallery).

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Paul Akers is an entrepreneur, business owner, author, speaker, & Lean maniac. He has written 4 books on Lean (2 Second Lean, Lean Health, Lean Travel, & Lean Life) and he travels the world to educate & speak about Lean principles & Lean manufacturing. Paul has a podcast called The American Innovator where he shares about his Lean & travel adventures. For more information on Paul Akers and Lean, visit his website. http://paulakers.net/

He is the founder and president of FastCap, based in Ferndale, WA. FastCap is an international product development company founded in 1997 with over 2000 distributors worldwide. At its core, FastCap is a Lean company, determined to continuously improve everything, every day. FastCap's products reflect the idea that everything can be improved and the best ideas come from the shop floor. For more information on FastCap, visit FastCap's website. http://www.fastcap.com/ For FastCap's Blog, go to this link. http://blog.fastcap.com/ For Spanish videos, visit our FastCap Spanish YouTube Channel.    / fastcap español  

To receive news regarding FastCap, 2 Second Lean, and The American Innovator podcast, go to this link: http://bit.ly/FastCap-Subscribe