Abstract
According to a study conducted by the Institute for the Science of Labour in 1943，Japanese master carpenters had ”a complete set of 179 tools„. And 26 boring tools were included in it.
Then， what kind of boring tools did they use in 17th -19th century? According to this research， the outline of boring tools in Japan of 17th -19th century is the following.
(1) At least they used 4 types of boring tools， Yoho -Kiri， Mitsume -Kiri， Tsubo -Kiri and Nezumiba -Kiri.
(2) They used ”Mojiri„ for enlarging hole. But in 20th century we can't find it in the tool box of Japanese carpenter.
(3) In early 19th century， they used wooden brace at Nagasaki. Generaly in Japan， brace and bits were used in late 19th century or 20th century.
(4) Special carpenters for building religion structures used boring tools those we can't find in the documents of 17th -19th century.
(5) In the picture scrolls of 17th-19th century， we can find the scenes that carpenters used boring tools. But we can't find them in the picture scrolls before early 16th century.
(6) In 17th -19th century iron nails were square edge and wedge shape. Then it was especialy important to make holes by boring tools before nailing.
