Jepara wood carving techniques taught to international students

Twenty-five students from 13 to 14 different countries participated in a hands-on workshop to learn the traditional wood carving techniques of Jepara, Central Java. Held at the Jepara Wood Carving Gallery, the training was part of the Summer Course 2026 Buja Sejana 2 organized by the Semarang State University (Unnes) Graduate School.

Under the guidance of 23 local instructors, students were introduced to specific carving stages, including ngrancapi, nglemahi, ngekoli, and nyoreti. Participants, including students from Afghanistan, Tanzania, and Uganda, expressed interest in bringing these cultural skills back to their home countries.

Hadi Priyanto, Chairman of the Jepara Wood Carving Preservation Foundation, stated that the goal is for these international students to act as cultural ambassadors for Jepara. He emphasized that such interactions help preserve Jepara's wood carving, which was designated as an Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015, and support the necessary regeneration of the craft.