In the west, we cut by pushing the saw away from us, almost as though we dislike it. In Japan, however, the cutting of wood is done by pulling the saw towards us, as though welcoming it into our woodworking. The motion is softer, allowing for a more controlled effort, even more intricasy, thus giving your woodworking a more artistic feeling. Also, the thinness of the blade allows a finer, more accurate cut, yet the top edge has a metal spine to hold the blade straight. Definitely a welcome change from the jarring sensation of a traditional handsaw.
