Tools of the Trade

This collection contains tools of the Japanese carpenter’s trade from the Takenaka Carpentry Museum, Kobe. The Japanese cherish the exquisite in all things. They lavish elegance and refinement not only on the products of their artistry but on the very tools that conjure them into existence. Before qualifying as a carpenter during the Edo period, an apprentice had to make his own tools. The dedication and care that went into their creation was regarded as the measure of his skill he would require for the rest of his working life. The Tekanaka Carpentry Tools Museum in Kobe houses a treasure trove of this long and proud tradition.