tako 蛸

A tool called a "punner" in English, used to pound down broken stones laid below the foundation of a building. It consists of a piece of zelkova wood 300-400 mm in diameter, and 350-450 mm high. There is an iron ring attached to the end, and two or three rods about 80 cm long which are fixed at even distances around the circumference. These rods allow several people to lift a tako and drop it to ram down broken stones. The tako weighs between 18 and 37 kg. This work is now largely done by electrically powered machines.