A Maebiki-noko saw is a one-man vertical saw that cuts wood vertically into pillars and boards. Before the spread of mechanical sawmills, these saws were widely used by craftsmen called kobiki (sawyers). The Konan Fureai-no-Yakata displays the saws and manufacturing tools actually used by the sawyers.
The Koka region is abundant in forest resources. Since ancient times, the region has been famous for its high-quality lumber used in construction, such as that for Todaiji-Temple. The geographical characteristics created a variety of wood-related businesses, one of them being the production of saw blades for which the region became a major production center during the Meiji and Taisho eras, capturing a large share of the national market.