Easier Than Hand Pulling: The Japanese Hoe And Sickle Combo For Tackling Weeds

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If you've been gardening for a while, you may already be familiar with some Japanese tools. Japanese gardening instruments are often designed with efficiency and versatility in mind, reflecting the country's work ethic and culture. One popular example is the hori knife (also known as a hori hori), which combines a blade, saw, and shovel in one easy-to-use handheld tool. But there's another Japanese tool every gardener should know, especially for dealing with weeds: the kana hoe.

The Japanese kana hoe features a short, curved blade similar to a small sickle. Unlike a standard long-handled garden hoe, the kana hoe has a short handle designed for one-handed use. It's similar to another Japanese weeding tool, the nejiri gama. However, the kana hoe has a shorter handle and a curved, sickle-like blade that makes it the perfect essential gardening tool for quickly slicing through weeds. You can use it to clear shallow-rooted weeds from the surface or to cut through more stubborn, deeper-rooted growth.

Like many Japanese weeding tools, the kana hoe is a versatile piece of equipment that offers multiple uses in your lawn and garden. Its curved blade is sharp (and if you have experience with Japanese tools, you know just how sharp they can be). That keen edge can slice through more than just the roots of stubborn weeds: It's also useful for churning tough, compacted dirt — exactly the kind of soil in which weeds are likely to grow and where hand-pulling can be a difficult and time-consuming chore. For example, after weeding, when it's time to plant, you can use the kana hoe like a garden shovel, loosening soil and digging holes for your seeds. The sickle-like design is also handy for cleaning up around the edges of your landscaping.

Another great thing about Japanese gardening tools is that they're usually quite affordable. This Nascom Kusatori Kana Hoe is a bona fide Japanese-made kana hoe, crafted from sturdy steel with a wooden handle. The blade is 5 inches long with a roughly 4-inch-long cutting edge, and at less than 6.5 ounces, it's light enough for all-day use. And, like many Japanese tools, the kana hoe is a versatile piece of kit that has multiple uses in your lawn and garden.