Japanese Woodworking Tools: The Complete Guide to Traditional Handmade Tools—How They Are Made and How to Use Them

The editors of Japan’s Carpentry Tools Basics Magazine offer a comprehensive introduction to handmade Japanese tools. Sought out by craftsmen for their durability and aesthetic appeal, Japanese carpentry tools are considered “the best in the world,” according to the authors. Each chapter zooms in on a specific tool type—planes, saws, genno hammers, and chisels—and details their history, how they’re made, and how to use and maintain them. For example, the section on genno hammers, a traditional Japanese hammer with a double-sided steel head, includes a “tapping guide” that teaches users to grip the handle firmly and strike with relaxed shoulders. Throughout, the authors intersperse interviews with master craftsmen, such as Masao Nakajima, a specialist in sukiya architecture and temple and shrine construction who instructs readers on the proper posture to maintain while planing wood. The book also includes background on the properties of wood and a trip through the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum in Kobe. Dynamic illustrations, including one from the late Edo period, highlight the extensive history of Japanese tool-making. Color photographs show every aspect of the tools, from their storage and handling to their upkeep. Woodworking enthusiasts will find this a boon. (Sept.)