Keywords
Architecture
Folk Dwellings
A thatching tool, kayayane fuki kōgu 茅屋根葺き工具, with a timber head, about 25 x 30 x 5 cm, fixed to a cylindrical handle, e 柄, about 2 m long. It is used to align the ends of newly laid reeds on the surface of a roof to achieve a smooth finish. It is also used to dress the eaves. The striking face of the gangibō often has a sawtooth profile, hence the use of the term gangi, meaning zigzag. However, tools with a flat striking face are still called gangibō. Tools with a sawtooth profile are called meari gangibō 目あり雁木棒 and those without, menashi gangibō 目なし雁木棒. Also referred to simply as *gangi 雁木, gagi がぎ, or gagibō がぎぼう.