Nomi and Kanna Tool Box

In 2024, I decided to travel to Japan to absorb as much content as I could of Japanese woodwork art forms and purchase Japanese tools to bring back to Australia. Having acquired some bench chisels (Nomi 鑿) and Japanese hand planes (Kanna鉋) I used them of various projects. However, I noticed that I wasn’t taking care of these tools.

I knew something needed to change, so I decided to create a toolbox that would inspire me to rise to the quality I would like to produce whenever I use these tools. A design that slows down the user when opening of the box. It requires two hands to open the lid. Every tool has an honoured place that demands the same respect of any other tool held in this box.
Crafted from Burdekin plum and Silky oak. Featuring sliding dovetail joints and splines. Nomi 鑿, meaning chisel, and Kanna鉋, Japanese hand planes.

One side showcases bench 追入鑿 and mortising たたき鑿chisels, while the other side features hand planes and marking tools on a red velvet cushion. A section holds my Genno woodworking hammer.