JAPANESE SICKLE - TRADITIONAL KAMA - NIWAKI
Japanese sickle, traditional Kama for cutting herbs and harvesting grasses.
The beveled blade is made of Shirogami White Paper steel, a high-end carbon steel. It is fast, light and precise, but strong enough to cut harder plants like brambles.
Poplar wood heel handle for excellent grip.
Niwaki brings the best of Japanese know-how, for gardeners, chefs, artisans, adventurers... Tools with a simple and effective design, created to last, renowned for their exceptional quality.
Handcrafted in Japan
- Weight: 150g
- Dimensions: 400 x 180 x 25mm
To extend their exceptional lifespan, the tools are pre-treated by NIWAKI: the metal parts are oiled, and the wooden handles are waxed.
These protective layers will help prevent damage caused by rust and moisture.
To take care of your great tools, here are a few simple steps to follow:
- After use, wipe them down with a cloth and store them in a dry place if possible.
- Protect the steel with our Niwaki camellia oil or another protective oil to prevent rust.
- Clean dirt and rust off the steel with our Niwaki Crean Mate scouring block.
- Oil or wax the handle from time to time.
- For tools with a sharpened edge, sharpen them regularly with our Smith’s sharpening stone or a tool file.
- As with all our Japanese tools with natural handles, the wood expands and contracts, which can cause the head to loosen. Gently tap the wedge in with a hammer to tighten the fit.
After studying sculpture in London, Jake Hobson went to Japan to investigate the Japanese relationship with nature and the environment around them.
Jake discovered that Japanese gardens were not just like gardens. They were mountains, rivers, rocks, trees, and waterfalls. It was everything he loved; these gardens told stories and referred to real landscapes in Japan.
Niwaki literally means "garden tree," it is the art of tree pruning, which is very different from that of Bonsai, because the roots are not pruned. But Niwaki is much more than that. It implies a philosophy, that of the landscape, of the recreation of unique microcosms, the vision of a man and his connection to, his understanding of, and his learning from nature.
But all this was possible thanks to the use of tools that share the same philosophy, created slowly, simply, by hand, by local master blacksmiths with exceptional expertise.
For Jake Hobson, every tool involves three crucial elements:
- good material, primarily high-quality carbon steel
- good design, generally as simple as possible
- good craftsmanship, passed down from generation to generation.
Japanese tools do not skimp on any of these elements: You can feel the quality of the craftsmanship as soon as you hold them in your hand, they simply and perfectly do the job they are designed for, and they last, holding their edge for a long time, rewarding the user with years, decades, and even lifetimes of pleasure.