Japanese hand saw

Explanation of the text on the hand saw wooden sheath

This saw is one of the tools in this set. 

「Tool set for forestry craftsmen from the Bicchu area in the early Showa period of Japan」

One side: “昭和九年叁月調之”

“調之” is an old Japanese word. One of the meanings is making. This sentence means that it was produced in March 1934.

The other side “備中玉嶋町お大安西油野, マルき, 深井氏用“

This sentence can be simply translated as: “The saw made in the Bicchu Tamashima cho was delivered to Mr. Fukai of Maruki Forestry Company in the Nishiyuno area on an lucky day.”

Here is a more detailed explanation：

・“備中/Bicchu” was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of western Honshū, in what is today western Okayama Prefecture.

・“玉嶋町/Tamashima Cho”. Tamashima-cho was located in the southern part of 備中/Bicchu, in the present-day Tamashima area of ​​Kurashiki City.

Before 1897, the area was called Tamashima Village.

In May 1897, Tamajima Village and Agasaki Village were combined and the name was changed to Tamajima Cho.

September 1902 - The villages of Otoshima and Kashiwazaki are incorporated into Tamashima Cho. January 1, 1952 - Tamashima cho becomes a city.

February 1, 1967 - The three cities of Tamashima, Kurashiki (old), and Kojima merged to become Kurashiki (new).

According to the history of the Tamashima area from the Internet, it is known that the area was indeed called “町/cho” in 1934 when the saw was made.

・“お大安/Taian ”is one of the 「Rokuyo」, also known as “孔明六曜星/Kongming Liuyaoxing”, is a kind of annotation in the traditional Chinese calendar, which is used to indicate the good and bad luck of each day. Later, it was introduced to Japan and became popular there, but gradually declined in China. The versions have changed over the dynasties. The current versions are divided into six types: “先勝（Sensho）”, then “友引（Tomobiki）”, “先負（Senpu）”, “仏滅（Butsumetsu）”, “大安（Taian）”, “赤口（Shakko）”

Among the many calendar annotations in Japan, "Rokuyo" is a very famous one. It is marked in general calendars and handbooks (a kind of portable diary). It has a wide influence on Japan today. It is mainly used as a reference for the ceremony of coming of age, weddings, funerals and sacrifices. For example, "Taian" should be chosen for the wedding ceremony, and "Tomobiki" should be avoided for the funeral.
Because Taian Day is suitable for starting something new. This indicates that the saw was delivered to the user on the Taian Day in March 1934. From the 1934 calendar, it can be known that in March, the 2nd, 8th, 14th, 24th, and 30th were Taian Days.

Adding お/O in front of a noun is a Japanese expression. Similar to お酒/O-sake,  酒/Sake means wine.

・“西油野/Nishi-Yuno” Located in present-day Nishi-Yuno, Bitchu Cho, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture. The area is now also rich in forestry resources.

・“マルき/Maru Ki” . It should be the company's trademark. There is a circle outside and the Japanese kana き inside. The Japanese Kana for “木(wood) is “き”.

・“深井氏用” means for Mr. Fukai.

Additional explanation: The Chinese characters written on the wooden sheath were in calligraphy and I was confused as to whether it was “玉嶋町” or “玉湯町“. Judging from the font alone, it looks more like “玉湯”.  However, the data shows that there is no place called  “玉湯” in the Bicchu area. Only in the neighboring Izumo Province is there a place called “玉湯町”. I think this is a writing error. From a geographical point of view, the “西油野/Nishi-Yuno” area is about 100 kilometers away from “玉湯町“ and about 60 kilometers away from “玉嶋町”. In addition, the Nishi-Yuno area, located deep in the mountains, has been using the rivers in the mountains to transport supplies to the current Kurashiki City since ancient times. This means that in the early Showa period when transportation was inconvenient, forestry craftsmen in the mountains could take a boat to the Tamashima cho.