Using a Japanese Sickle

A Japanese sickle, or Kama, is an excellent tool for cutting grass in tight areas, chopping down cover crops, and harvesting plants such as comfrey, nettle, lemon balm, and mint, to name a few.
In many instances, it is much faster than using a pair of pruners.
An added bonus: It’s easy to maintain and requires no fuel.
It's perfect for mixed, perennial orchards as you'll see in the video.
I'll show you some different ways to use one and offer a few tips and tricks along the way.
You can find out more about our sickles here:
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[@ouiilest]

I'm Japanese, but it's refreshing to see a sickle that is so familiar and ubiquitous gets so much attention and is captured on video. I never thought that there would be people using it in America.

[@sheezy2526]

I bought a cheap one for 108 yen from a 100 yen shop when I was in Tokyo coz it looked cool.

[@richardjenkins8366]

Just ordered for a old chicken coop, that has overgrown, my husband wanted to use roundup and I said NO WAY!!

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

sickles and scythes are just so much better than a weed eater or a lawn mower in many situations. I don't understand why they went out of use.

[@ixflqr]

And there became a fear around the shape of the blade from some loathsome misuse and superstition associations

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

@Jen farmer Using a weed eater is tough on your back after a while. This is way easier on your back than a weed eater. Saw video of a man cutting down 12 ft high cat tails with a scythe.

[@rossleavitt8875]

Modernity’s a bitch…

[@user-zn9uf6fe4v]

Dayum, that sickle turn vegetation to salad in seconds😱thank you mate 👍

[@wegder]

I bought one of these back in the late 80s from Smith and Hawkins, used it just like you show. I still have it after all these years.

[@LiaRees]

I found the kid in the background quite reassuring. I'd been wondering if I could handle a sickle safely. If a 9-year-old can use one, I'm probably fine. Appreciated :)

[@miztri]

I don't know if I want to be that close to the ground with such high grass The possibility of encountering snakes scares me

[@brenm4894]

My thoughts exactly…not in copperhead country.

[@georgemohr]

Great looking tool ... I'm going to give it a try. Just ordered your sharpening files ... wish I would have added the Japanese Sickle with my order.

[@VikingPreparedness]

Great vid - informative, satisfying to watch, and you clearly know what you are doing and talking about. Thanks.

[@xtent9246]

For precise cutting with a kama, cut at the base, moving the arm from the from the outside-inward while holding or bracing the top of the plant. For general cutting, always cut away from you (inside-outward). This protects you from accidental cuts, as well as moves cut plant material away from you as opposed to gathering it in front of you. Also, one would never have used a kama or other sickle to carry plant matter. It would have been moved by hand, bundled, and carried with sai or a staff across the shoulders.

[@xtent9246]

But yeah: key thing = never cut towards you, cut away from you unless you absolutely have to. It's easier than it looks to cut at a thick or slightly wooded plant, miss or slide off, and pop the kama blade into your off-side leg.

[@GreenTimeEagle]

Your manner is very calming. Thank you!

[@AttilaPap13]

Thank you, I learned more than I hoped for! I'm familiar with the kama from martial arts I'm learning, but was always curious how to work with it as intended! And yeah, a nice nettle tea afterwards... 😊

[@melodycopp6777]

Fun to see this tool in action ! Thanks !

[@shamusbowker]

I've been using one of these to clear a lot of tight spots where I'd have to use the weed whacker and damage trees and other plants through carelessness. Good video.

[@trackerjacker0013]

I learned to use kama in combat, along with the tonfa and sai. It’s really calming to see how I’m “supposed” to use it. Would you kindly do a piece on sharpening and maintenance for this particular tool?

[@tonisherkan8027]

That tool is amazing

[@vinnettepope8255]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful ❤️ tutorial 👌

[@stephentutton3298]

They have them all over korea. General farming tool. Rice farmers. Burning stubble and grass along the verge. Different approach to the west. Makes a good weapon too. Ask any ex esl teacher from japan or korea. Familiar sight in asia. Interesting seen applied in the west.

[@brianmorris8045]

My knees are shot, I'll use the scythe thanks...lol. I do have a sickle I also attached to the handle.

[@Hyla_Ninjutsu]

Someone shot you in your knees? Are you okay?!!??! 😲😲

[@ThePermacultureLife]

Matt, I just love your hand tools, esp the Japanese stuff. They really know how to make good tools. I'm still using a dull corn knife to do the trimming you show in the video. Very frustrating. Thanks for the video!

[@Thetoolmerchants]

That does sound rough! Thanks for the comment I do appreciate it!

[@CHiZZoPs27]

Hah, I should have watched your video before I tried using one today. Just chopped my offhand knuckle off, as I was stupidly holding the bunches of grass while cutting.

[@hollytolbert6563]

i used these for more fighting stuff and i do spinning and stuff not harvesting

[@ShoshanaBrand]

I've ordered it. Now I just need to figure out how to sharpen it.

[@Brush_Cutter_Man]

Nice tool for grass cutting... 🙏👍

[@Mike_Muffler]

Jim Kovaleski is the Scythe Master.. find him on Justin Rhodes' videos... Him and that Scythe are amazing.

[@Thetoolmerchants]

I've seen those videos too. Also check out One Scythe Revolution and Scythe Works

[@jetlaggedchef6806]

Great video on the sickle! Any chance of getting a video about maintenance? :)

[@Thetoolmerchants]

Yep, here ya go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6HNo4aFgNtgmq8

[@Splitchipsonblack1011]

Does anyone know if this can be used to cut thick weeds? There is an abandoned house in my neighborhood that has weeds about 6ft tall and about a pinky width in diameter. I want to clean up the yard but it's no match for my lawnmower. Thanks

[@TCat13]

Thank you, this was very helpful! Just subscribed.

[@lorenbush8876]

So that is made of hardened steel so you don't have to peen it like a scythe? I just got a new scythe and it was supposed to be sharpened and it was sharp enough to cut my finger but not to easily slice through grass like it was supposed to do, I guess I need to peen it and then sharpen it. Thanks man.

[@SuperBitmouse]

Really enjoyed the video!

[@pasyouby]

Thank you for the nice tips😆🙏

[@jadenephrite]

The Japanese Weeding Sickle is known as Nejiri Kama.

[@melanieanton-thunenkotter1055]

Yes, but this is a Grass Sickle, Nejiri Kama looks a little different. A very useful tool too

[@DmitryIvanov-sj2tt]

Мальчишка помогает. Красавчик! Не знаю, сынишка или младший брат 😊

[@andym4695]

An old Polish fellow I know recommended knee pads.

[@paoloanacleowong2067]

A ninja turtle 5th member looks more badass with grass stickle than bladed brass knuckles.

[@FireStar-gz2ry]

Anyone else see the kid behind him with the sickle? 😣

[@KishorTwist]

Gotsta have a sickle for my garden sheet!

[@j.chaitlal9421]

Ha

[@Tex1680]

ok so I have old an new vines all along my fence and was wondering if this would better than an electric hedge trimmer weight wise for longer periods of work. Be in mind that some of these vines are thick and dry so they've hardened a good amount.

[@77rainbow45]

Be the sickle of Korea

[@ithrow29babiesaday277]

nice but did you know its also a weapon they use in martial arts?

[@fmt4036]

Thx.....i learnt a lot🇩🇪👍

[@MattJonesYT]

Volume is very quiet, would be good to normalize the sound so the levels are right

[@4IS44C]

Mitsuko Souma’s Tool in Battle Royale

[@GatorCruz]

I can't believe you are not wearing blade/cut proof gloves AND that your kid seems to be using a sickle, too! I hope you all have good health insurance!

[@southsynthic7828]

You don't really need them if you're experienced.

[@GatorCruz]

@@southsynthic7828 "Don't really need" what? Fingers? Kids? Unscathed skin?

[@southsynthic7828]

@@GatorCruz Well, yeah, you're right.

[@lind4mexic4n43]

Let me see when you born. You born in the 2000' right?

[@GatorCruz]

@@lind4mexic4n43 Wow! If you are a psychic by profession then I really hope you have a day job. You are way off.

[@holdinghearts2766]

What do you use to keep it sharp?

[@noga8974]

That's a very important question, surprised it hasn't been answered yet. Perhaps the "The Tool Merchants" would like you to buy another tool rather than sharpen 🤔

[@cyanidemaiden]

Well done. Just curious though, not sure if you know or not, but I've seen other videos of people using sickles and their methood is always to hold the plants with one hand while they cut, but I would much rather do it the way you are. Does it depend on what kind of sickle you get, or can people actually do one handed swipes with most sickles?

[@akatayama]

Here's an excellent video that clearly shows both techniques using the sickle for weeding. As you'll see, the movements are quite different with the different strokes. For the R to L one-handed movement, you can see a lot of wrist movement & speed, with the front 1/4 of the blade facing the weeds at nearly a right angle. (detail @ t=4:01) With the two handed movement (@ t=3:31), you can see the that the sickle meets the weeds at the 2/3 point, and the blade drawn and rotated around the weed. (detail @ t=4:46) At t=10:00, he shows a technique of how to advance against thick growth. Essentially he repeats the same stroke in place multiple times until it's cleared, then advances slightly forward and repeats. BTW @ t=5:05 he does some quick field sharpening before continuing with the weeding. While the video is in Japanese, the video's clear enough to see the technique. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYm6cp2Fbc6eqMkm26s

[@endoneswa]

Now, how do you cut grass that grows between pavement blocks? Can you use this?

[@jacobmanvlog7868]

Thats nice tools

[@MsNcM1218]

Yikes! Your son is playing with the blade 😯

[@Lalasayyaya]

Sharpening and maintaining tools video?

[@lukezacharias3245]

What brand of sickle is that

[@Thetoolmerchants]

Seikouba brand from Hida Tool in Berkeley Ca

[@DeshraD]

That is a scythe bub... scythe - slowly blade with slow arc. Sickle- rounded blade that often ends in a sharply curved tip that puts the tip in line with the handle, a sickle blade is always shaped like a C. Best example of a sickle is on the Russian flag. Notice the blade difference? Good know you can tell a scythe from a sickle

[@SykoLiu]

The funniest type of know-it-all are the ones that are wrong. Which type are you?

[@credinzel6996]

Still a sickle. I don't see handles on that thing.

[@sararamirez6078]

How that small boy can to use that dangerous tool, and how do you allowed him to do that?

[@robshillinglaw7512]

What's best for honeysuckle?

[@larietournelle7904]

And when u use this stool u dont make steak with insects. We can easily imagine insects fall of the top of grass 👌👌 Very accurate in a new garden when biodiversity beginn too grow up

[@dieselj7433]

It's the reaper axe

[@chittaranjandeo1187]

Useful instrument.

[@joshgross8741]

Dope.

[@loki1066]

What happens when the child falls and the sickle goes in to his throat, eyes or chest?

[@rngmstrdan]

Have another one???

[@lenhaorokcham1743]

what is the cost of this sickle?

[@davidclark9086]

looking for the video on sharpening this tool. Where can I find it?

[@Thetoolmerchants]

If you visit my channel you'll see it. I messed up the aspect ratio of the video but it should still help.

[@lawrencel2544]

What if I am left handed

[@Thetoolmerchants]

Works the same with either hand. Just flip it over. :)

[@randynyberg3536]

I used these and was standing on o pile of red fire ants

[@walker2120]

I do not think your comfrey is benefited by comfrey mulch, as you point out the plant gets most of its nutrients from a deep taproot. It does not have those lattice roots going out along the ground.

[@Hyla_Ninjutsu]

hi i wanna be a farmer can u teach how farmer plz

[@susanbrooks1930]

Really like the idea of this blade but was totally distracted by the small child looking and showing off at the camera instead of what he was doing with such a potentially dangerous tool!!!!

[@HenryTranExistsOnTheInternet]

woah is this spike jonze

[@sam-co1oo]

great video but your kid was worrying me and then threw the scythe.. i hope it wasn't sharp >< heh

[@fumiooncracc4161]

Come here because Mitsuko...

[@napal-m1b]

한국에서는 "낫"이라고 한다. 저건 외낫으로 풀베기에는 괜찮지만 나무베기는 어렵다. 한국의 낫은 풀과 나무베기 모두 가능하다.

[@g2ltt733]

Can i use it with a hammer?

[@lightupskechers488]

🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️ 🅱️😂😂😂😂😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️😂😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️😂😂😂🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️😂🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂😂😂🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️ 🅱️😂😂😂🅱️😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🅱️🅱️ 🅱️😂😂🅱️🅱️🅱️😂😂😂🅱️🅱️😂😂🅱️🅱️ 🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️🅱️

[@southsynthic7828]

G2 LTT No, you need to use the american one.

[@Biophotogenesis]

Next time a Kimono would be more appropriate

[@metubeusercom]

8:40 Allahuakbar! Nice tips. Thanks for sharing

[@SBCBears]

😎

[@chriswalker4272]

Why not just use an Austrian Scythe! I'm frightened your going to cut your left hand as you keep reaching in to an active cutting zone to move material as your cutting it. A Scythe would be more effective imo.

[@Thetoolmerchants]

Scythes are great and I use one too. You're right, it is faster than a sickle, but it's also a more expensive tool with a steeper learning curve, so I feel good about demonstrating the sickle in this way. The only time I've cut myself on a sickle was when sharpening with a thin diamond stone (not recommended). I've been using a thicker water stone lately which keeps my fingers safe. -Matt

[@kathleenhudziak8244]

I agree; a family member just received 10 stitches on left index finger from this kind of tool. Wear gloves also.

[@johnyguerrero5120]

@@Thetoolmerchants I really have to ask u , I have a scythe but there are areas that I can not use it on so I thought about buying a sickle for hard to reach areas . would u recommend I use a sickle for this ?

[@Thetoolmerchants]

@@johnyguerrero5120 Yep.

[@robysaputra914]

I have celurit

[@DeshraD]

It’s not a sickle, it’s a scythe. Scythes have long arcing blades, even short hand held variants have the same blade shape. Sickles are C shaped blades.

[@LCRLive687]

Any good tips on wielding that as a weapon?

[@credinzel6996]

Ain't a weapon but aight.

[@credinzel6996]

But anyways, at most, you'd just do picking motions with the blade and that's about it. Reason why scythe shaped weaponry weren't weapons.

[@NPC-ro5io]

Swing it?

[@monicaaron8265]

🌷👋

[@Aerational]

So you give your toddler a sickle...

[@mbanford1]

im left handed, so,?

[@Thetoolmerchants]

Shouldn't be an issue as the tool is the same on both sides (like a machete). Just flip it over and cut left to right with your left hand.

[@leewarren5402]

You’re filming the guys back and arm but not the actual tool in motion. How frustrating.

[@nathanaelmorris7569]

:D

[@karr9951]

This is Korean's "not"

[@cortanaisawesome5575]

*Battle Royale*

[@monicaaron8265]

Până nu vom fi conduși de cine trebuie .... EU nu votez pe nimeni .... 📢 👋🤨🤨

[@coldapollo8731]

Now a Japanese hammer... *Soviet National anthem starying intensifying*

[@monicaaron8265]

Eu v-am spus infinit că : cerul și pământul vor trece ....DAR 🌈👋 cuvântul lui DUMNEZEU " NU " va trece până ce totul se va împlini 🌈👁👋 nici o putere pâmânteană NU schimbă planul lui DUMNEZEU .... indiferent cum o cheamă pe acea putere ( Europa, mamutul planetei , etc puteri) dacă am spus că doar DUMNEZEU este SUVERAN cu PUTERI DEPLINE .... fix așa este 🌈👁👋

[@aaronhardway343]

That works fine until you lop the buttons off of a 5 foot rattlesnake sleeping under a bush......

[@kareemjohnson8059]

Sooooo..the lil boy using the same tool as an adult is both intriguing and disturbing..

[@monicaaron8265]

Oameni buni, cuvântul sfântului Ardealului se va adeveri ca , cuvântul sfintei Evanghelii .... orașul București va fi șters de pe harta României ( pentru păcatul pedofiliei cu copilași minori drogați ) 👁👋🤕🤕 ....acolo este " furunculul plin cu puroi " 👋😔😔 ..... iar DOCTORUL sufletelor inocente DUMNEZEU ÎMPĂRATUL cu " BISTURIUL " va tăia în carne vie , fără anestezie și va extirpa acest furuncul cu puroi și labirinturi cu cadavre în crime cu premeditare.... OF România 🕯🇦🇩 👁👋

[@monicaaron8265]

Este doar adevăr dureros, nici măcar la nivel de gând EU nu aș accepta vreodată ( manipulare ) .... cu mine nu se glumește ( când este vorba despre pedofilie și inocența copilașilor ) și nici cu DUMNEZEU când are un mesaj divin serios .... țara are foarte multe orașe frumoase ....așa că orientați-vă 👋🤔

[@detectiemetale3769]

You're kidding ??? You gave a sickle to a child... He still has his fingers ???

[@az0id900]

You put a child in this sick world, are you kidding ???

[@Rose_Butterfly98]

Well, are the ones that cut the grass anyway, normally, nobody gets hurt. Unless some kid is a dumbass. I used this as a kid too

[@rngmstrdan]

Amazingly, you can teach a child proper use for many "dangerous" things.

[@NPC-ro5io]

Psh. You see how much chopping needs to get done? Put that kid to work!

[@davemarshall5540]

I didn’t hear a word you said because your son was in the background unsupervised using the same super sharp scythe. At one point, he’s looking at you while holding something and trying to cut it with the tool. Really? Come on, that makes you look irresponsible.

[@imsickofmakingnames]

🙄

[@thea.m.p.co.467]

I know I'm 4 years late to the party, but I'm still gonna say it - Shut up. Children are children, but most of them are not incompetent nincompoops; you can teach them how to respect and use "dangerous" tools; you do not necessarily have to have your eyes glued to a child in order to be supervising them; children need to be exposed to doing dangerous things by themselves as a part of having a healthy development, understanding their autonomy, and learning to have a healthy fear and respect of things that can hurt them; you don't know if a partner/parent is out of view of the camera, so again, who are you to assume that child is unsupervised? If you did have children I hope you didn't coddle them like suckling infants their entire lives, and if you do I hope you do better by doing less, and if you don't then do us all a favor and remain childless.

[@Austin-sv6io]

OK boomer.

[@MarkBelain]

You seriously don’t raise kids to know tool safety? It’s common for people who use tools like this to teach their kids how to respect the tools, as I’m pretty sure this guy’s done.

[@guysview]

When I was about 5 years old my dad would have me cutting Christmas Decorations on a power band saw standing on a high box .. (his instructions were "don't cut your fingers off") People used to be real instead of "politically correct" "riskless Society", hipster yuppie, slime, like there is today. Helicopter parents. People who question the little boy in the video make me puke.

[@JackSloane333]

Lol, I initially thought you were referring to Xmas lights and was so confused. I agree with you though, folks on all sides are too sensitive and careful.

[@grzegorz16100]

I used to go fishing with my friend alone when we were both 5 years old. The problem is that if today something wrong would happen parents would get a lot of shit for letting their kids do stuff on their own. They could end up in prison.

[@tranquility9325]

Please dont allow a small child to play with scythe.

[@igardening1493]

WHY ARE YOU letting that small child use one. Accident waiting to happen. Stupid parenting