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Interchangeable blade saws

Japan boasts a millennia-old tradition of wooden architecture. Simple houses, temples, and even fortresses were constructed almost exclusively from wood. Many of these masterpieces, crafted solely with hand saws and other traditional woodworking tools, are now part of the World Heritage Sites. Over the centuries, an extensive wealth of knowledge developed, which, combined with highly advanced blacksmithing skills, resulted in the creation of unique woodworking tools. Among Japanese tools, saws are of primary importance.

In the past, these saws were crafted by hand in small workshops. Today, industrially manufactured saws with disposable replaceable blades have become prevalent in Japan for three reasons:

For someone not specifically trained, it is too difficult to sharpen these saws with their sometimes complex geometry.
Conventional files fail on these laser-hardened saw teeth—they are harder than the file.
The replacement saw blade is cheaper than the labor time required for sharpening.

The three most important types of saws are:

the Dozuki—a single-edged saw with a back that stiffens the blade, allowing for very precise cuts.
the Ryoba—a double-edged saw for both rip and crosscuts.
the Kataba—a single-edged saw without a back. Traditionally used mainly for crosscuts, but also available for rip cuts.

In terms of teeth design, Japan distinguishes whether a saw is primarily intended for rip cuts, such as for slotting, or primarily for crosscuts, such as for trimming or cutting to length. The trapezoidal teeth, when magnified, as the name suggests, show a shifted trapezoid. The teeth are alternately beveled. This tooth design is mainly suitable for crosscuts.