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Shoji: Build Your Own Japanese Sliding Doors - What You Need

When carefully comparing different offerings, it’s easy to see the significant differences between well-made Shoji and some versions available on the market due to the "Japan trend." In this article, you will learn what matters when building Shoji. If you want to build your own Shoji, you’ll find the necessary accessories for Shoji construction here.

TO THE SHOP

I would be happy to create kits for Shoji and Fusuma according to your wishes and ideas for self-assembly:

Go to the kits

WOOD

Building shoji yourself - what you need | © Shoji Bau | Japanese furniture and antiques

(In the picture on the left, you can see my wood supplier.) Shoji can theoretically be made from almost any available type of wood, but I rely on the expertise of my predecessors and exclusively use fir wood, which is regionally available in the highest quality. This greatly reduces long transport routes and additional environmental impact. My ongoing inventory includes about 5-10 cubic meters, making it easy to select the best wood for the key components of Shoji and Fusuma—these are the frame parts and lattices. Less optimal pieces of this valuable material are used for structural purposes.

DIY Shoji - What You Need | © Shoji Bau | Japanese furniture and antiques

Selecting the right wood is crucial to prevent functional issues caused by warping. Wood is a living material that reacts to fluctuations in humidity (summer-winter). Assessing the quality of boards cut from trees is highly demanding and requires decades of experience. The construction allows for minimal raw wood consumption. In Japanese rooms, even “scraps” are used—pieces that would typically be discarded in a conventional workshop. Even 30 cm long pieces find their use. Disposal of my installations is environmentally safe due to the use of eco-friendly materials (wood, finishes, Shoji paper, rice glue). Simply put, this results in "healthy" products.

Seamless Integration of Lattices into the Frame

This is how traditional corner joints and lattices are fitted into the frame.

Building Shoji Yourself - Here's What You Need | © Shoji Bau | Japanese furniture and antiques
Building Shoji Yourself - What You Need | © Shoji Bau | Japanese furniture and antiques

SURFACE

I generally offer two types of surface finishes:

A beautiful, natural wood sheen is achieved by hand-planing, a traditional Japanese technique.

For a “European finish,” I work exclusively with natural-based products, which are not only safe but also prevent static build-up (less dust on the lattices).

The treatment involves oils, waxes, or colored shellac patina (from Livos and Naturhaus).

Of course, I pay special attention to the needs of allergy sufferers (e.g., linseed oil, orange terpenes, beeswax).

CONSTRUCTION AND DETAILS

There are different options for Shoji sliding doors.

Traditionally, Shoji slides in wooden tracks at the top and bottom. I usually use Japanese rollers at the bottom and the original sliding mechanism at the top.

Installing Shoji later often results in a threshold due to the track rail. However, this allows me to perfectly adjust the installation to the conditions. A suspended version with European sliding door fittings is also possible, though the metal tracks remain visible.

Once installed, Shoji is surprisingly robust. Damaged paper panels can be easily replaced.

The track rail is made from hardwood (maple, beech, oak), making it durable and resistant to wear.

Precise adjustment of wall joints to accommodate uneven masonry is important to me and makes a difference. Silicone or similar fillers are only used in exceptional cases when structurally necessary.

Seamless Integration of Lattices into the Frame

Hikite (recessed handles) are made from various types of wood, such as beech, maple, or walnut. This material often comes from workshop scraps. I also use recessed handles purchased in Japan.

Build your own Shoji - What you need | © Shoji Bau | Japanese furniture and antiques

The track rail is made from hardwood (maple, beech, oak) and is durable.

Building Shoji Yourself - What You Need | © Shoji Bau | Japanese furniture and antiques

Seamless wall connections to uneven masonry without using silicone.

Building shoji yourself - here's what you need
Building Shoji yourself - what you need
Building Shoji Yourself - Here's What You Need

Corner joints are crafted in the traditional Japanese style. There are no exposed crossbars like in many industrial products.

Building Shoji Yourself - Here's What You Need
Building Shoji Yourself - What You Need

Recessed handles are either milled into the frame or set in hardwood. See image 1 (left: front view, right: back view; the Shoji’s lattices are also visible).

Recessed handles can also be made from different types of wood or finished with different oils or colored lacquers.

COVERING

Building shoji yourself – here’s what you need
Building shoji - what you need
"Build Your Own Shoji - What You Need"

Shoji is covered with Washi (Japanese paper), available in various types distinguished by composition, thickness, and texture.

Other materials can also be used, such as glass, fabric, plastic, or coated papers specifically designed for use in wellness areas.

SELF-ASSEMBLY AND COVERING

Building shoji yourself - what you need
DIY Shoji - What You Need
Build Shoji Yourself - Here's What You Need

For DIY enthusiasts, it’s possible to receive custom-fit Shoji components for self-assembly.

The construction allows for adjustments of about 3 cm in measurement tolerances.

Over the past 20 years, customer-measured installations have never resulted in unsuccessful assembly.

"Dear Mr. Bauer, attached are photos of the Shoji door. It was easy to install as all the parts fit together perfectly. Thank you very much. Best regards, Dietmar Rath, Vienna"

Before: Wall opening in the attic studio  
After: Close-up of Shoji after self-installation  
Finished Shoji - Room effect  

Through the careful selection and processing of the wood, I can guarantee that there will be no functional impairment.

Of course, I cannot accept liability for wear and tear during the warranty period, nor for damage caused by force or improper handling.

We build kits for Shoji and Fusuma for self-assembly.

This offer is for customers who enjoy assembling their custom-made shoji fusuma in their own homes.

Installation by a local tradesperson is also an option, as it saves on my travel costs.

Many customers come to our location near Lake Chiemsee to pick up their shoji kits and take the opportunity to view our showroom, which features existing fixtures and antique Japanese household items.

My 30 years of installation experience are incorporated into the production of these kits.

It's also important to note that I don't take measurements on-site for 90% of my orders, as my construction method allows for significant inaccuracies in the existing structure.

© Shoji Bau | Buy kits for Shoji and Fusuma

Custom-made shoji sliding doors as a room-dividing wall with a view into the adjacent room - light wooden lattice, paper covering, solid wood ceiling.

© Shoji Bau | Buy kits for Shoji and Fusuma

Fusuma elements with fine slatted detailing and colored covering in a tatami room with warm wall lighting.

About the production of the kits

Are you interested in such an approach?

  1. You send me measurements of the rooms; pictures would be desirable.

    For the measurements, you need 2 good folding rulers that do not bend when unfolded.

    The height:

    One unfolded to 2 metres, held at the end and kept straight, measuring from the end of the        
    (2 metres) with the other folding ruler up to the ceiling, and this at 3 points.
    The width:

    From wall to wall, without skirting boards, and likewise at the ceiling.
    Whether walls and floors are straight can often already be seen from standing cabinets or from the distances to the wall.

    Even better is the use of a long spirit level (mine is 180 cm).

    An alternative would be a straight aluminium batten and a short spirit level.

  2. Based on your measurements and ideas, we determine the number and muntin design of the sliding door elements.

    This is the basis for a cost estimate.

  3. As soon as my offer has been confirmed and accepted, I prepare a scale drawing (1:20).

    I will be happy to incorporate any requested changes!

© Shoji Bau | Buy kits for Shoji and Fusuma

Ready-made Shoji kits in the workshop at Lake Chiemsee: classic grid pattern, white paper covering, ready for self-assembly.

© Shoji Bau | Buy kits for Shoji and Fusuma

Shoji sliding doors with individual mullion design and horizontal decorative band - detail of the custom-made elements in the workshop.

Dealing with the structural conditions, sloping walls, floors and ceilings

The kits for Shoji or Fusuma usually also include the construction timbers (running rail, fitting strips, stops and guide).

The precise fit of the kit is achieved by incorporating the

  1. running rail, which you must adapt to the floor conditions
  2. stops and guide, which allow a tolerance of 4 cm in width and 2 cm in height.

The tools you need!

  1. Jigsaw for adjusting the fitting strips
  2. Electric hand planer for fitting strips and running rail
  3. Hammer drill and cordless screwdriver
  4. Spirit level (as long and precise as possible)
  5. Wall plugs, screws and wood glue
  6. Clamps and screw clamps

Contents of the Shoji-Fusuma kit

  1. Shoji or Fusuma according to plan, made precisely to measure
  2. Stops, guide, fitting strips and running rail
  3. Shim material to compensate for structural irregularities:
    plywood in various thicknesses of 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm and veneer with a thickness of 0.9 mm
  4. The Shoji or Fusuma are already covered with the paper you selected after sampling
  5. Photos and telephone assistance during the installation of your doors are included in the offer

Transport

You have the following options:

  • Collection by yourself
  • Delivery by forwarding company (packaging: wooden crate)
  • Delivery by me, without installation
© Shoji Bau | Buy kits for Shoji and Fusuma

Tatami living room with shoji screen and green fusuma door opening to the adjoining room – evening atmosphere with landscape view.

© Shoji Bau | Buy kits for Shoji and Fusuma

Luminosa stanza con tatami, lanterne di carta Akari, paravento shoji, porta fusuma verde e lucernario: estetica giapponese in un contesto alpino.