Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use [Paperback]

Toshio Odate (Author, Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

This book is a complete guide to the tools used by a shokunin, or master Japanese craftsman, for both beginning woodworkers and professionals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Linden Publishing (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941936465
• ISBN-13: 978-0941936460
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Omnibus of Traditional Japanese Woodworking Tools, April 23, 2002

By 

Steven D. Mcgee (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use (A Fine woodworking book) (Hardcover)

I have never seen some of the variations of tools detailed in this VERY thorough catalog of tools. I have a couple of books on the subject, and this is the most detaied by far.

Illustrated with well-executed line drawings and photographs, Anyone without personal experience will be able to "pick up" the methods of traditional (non-power tool) woodworking from Japan. Those with experience will see the insight of some of the tool's design for their applications.

Odate explains how to use the tools as well- Not a "How To" book, but enough to begin to practice their use.

What I wnjoyed most was Odate's personal anecdotes of his apprenticeship- a lifestyle lost in the U.S. This is where "...their Spirit..." comes in.

Inspiring!

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book covers everything about Japanese tools., June 23, 1998

By 

13th floor (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use (Paperback)

This book starts with the workshop description and layout. Toshio Odate uses his own unique experiences as a craftsman to show how to use and care for the tools. There are chapters on saws, chisels, marking tools, and handplanes. Japanese tools are much different than western style tools in their appearance, use, and care. All of these are covered in this excellent book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully informative and well-written, August 8, 2009

By 

A. Breiby (Wasilla, AK, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use (Paperback)

As a woodworker who is increasingly getting away from power tools and back to hand work, reading about how Japanese woodworkers do it was fascinating. I have only one Japanese tool sofar, a small dozuki saw, but it's cut is so fine and so easy to control that I intend to aquire more Japanese tools. This book has inspired me; equally importantly, it shows the way to their use, and in some cases, how to make your own. I heartily recommend this fine book to anyone interested in learning more about Japanese woodworking, or in becoming a better woodworker with hand tools in general. In addition to being well written, Toshio Odate gives a fascinating account of his apprenticship to his stepfather within its cultural context.