On the other hand, as for chipped stone axes single-edged stone axes of which sharp broken side was blade area, in the form of shamisen (a three-stringed Japanese banjo) stick, were found in the Northern Japan in the end of the early Jomon period, and these are called 'direct blade ax' or 'tranche-style stone tool,' and these are believed to be used as 'hand ax' in the following times.