T h e purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of microwave irradiation on the modulus of elasticity and toughness of wood, in order to understand the improving effects on the plasticity of wood, The experimental results are summarizedd as follows: 1. The microwave irradiation of wood showed an appropriate time to make minimum modulus of elasticity and maximum toughness condition, the optimum treating time was about 2~4 minutes in this study. 2. Under the optimum time of microwave irradiation, the deformations of wood induced by microwave irradiation were more than twice as qreat as those of air dried wood, While toughnes was more than six times as great as those of air dried wood. However, the modul us of elasticity was only 20%~30% that of air dried wood. 3. The maximum toughness of microwave irradiated wood increased linearly with increasing value of the Inverse of modulus of elasticity (1/E_b). 4. The improving effects of microwave irradiation on the plasticity of wood showed the species dependent nature However, it showed the following general trend, Softwoods>Native hardwoods>Imported S. E. Asian hardwoods.