Daily Tools of the Yayoi Period

Shell Reaping Knife
Found at the Bishamon Cave C, Kanagawa, Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century

Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Japanese Archaeology Gallery
April 8, 2026 (Wed) - September 6, 2026 (Sun)

In the Yayoi period (ca. 5th century BC–3rd century AD), polished stone and metal tools were introduced from China and the Korean Peninsula along with wet rice cultivation. Stone tools included reaping knives for harvesting, a range of polished axes and adzes for making wooden agricultural tools, and polished arrowheads that could have been used as weapons. These tools were subsequently made with iron.

Major Work(s) on Exhibit 4 results

	Designation	Name	Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance	Period	Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number	CMT
Highlight		Clog Used in Rice Paddies	Found at the Sena Site, Shizuoka	Yayoi period, 2nd century BC–3rd century AD	Lent by Shizuoka Prefectural Education Commission
Highlight		Polished Axe	Found from Tenryū River, Nagano	Yayoi period, 2nd–1st century BC	J-7323
Highlight		Reaping Knives	Found at the Bishamon Cave C, Kanagawa	Yayoi period, 1st–3rd century	J-37003-9
Highlight		Octopus Trap	Found at the Yotsuike Site, Osaka	Yayoi period, 2nd century BC–3rd century AD	Gift of Mr. Maeda Chozaburo, J-10068

Exhibitions

Exhibitions and Events