Japanese Garden Tools to Get a Green Thumb

Posted August 4th 2018 on the former blog

Originally posted on Spoon & Tamago by Johnny Strategy (@Johnny_Strategy). 

Sanjo City in Niigata has a history of blacksmithing that dates back to the 17th century. Susceptible to flooding, the farmers of the region were struggling to make a living until a local magistrate went to Edo and convinced a number of blacksmiths to come and teach the farmers to make nails as a source of income. This decision led to the flourishing of an entire industry that still remains today. One of those blacksmith companies carrying on the legacy is Kondo Seisakusho.

For the past 100 years, Kondo Seisakusho has, quite ironically, specialized in handcrafting tools to be used outside. Notably, tools for farming and agriculture that originally were on the brink of extinction due to the constant flooding. But the company survived and eventually – due to the more recent emergence of home gardening – developed a line of smaller tools meant for hobbyists. But that doesn’t mean any cut corners. The same materials, craftsmanship and emphasis on usability that goes in to their agricultural tools are also applied to their gardening tools. Just look at these beautiful hand trowels and cultivators. Their simplicity and elegance are enough to make anyone want their own little garden of herbs and vegetables.