4 Incredibly Clever Japanese Tools And Gadgets To Make Your Life Easier

Even after living in Japan for decades, I’m still impressed and sometimes surprised by the ingenuity in Japanese product design. And home centers in Japan are excellent places to discover unique tools that are unknown or rarely used overseas. This video introduces you to four products that I recommend for use in Japan or as gifts and souvenirs to take home. They’re all available at GooDay, but prices and inventory are subject to change, so call in advance. https://gooday.co.jp/ 人生の半分以上を日本で暮らすようになったけど、いまだに日本製品のデザインや工夫には感心させられることが多い。実はホームセンターは、そんなアイテムの宝庫なんだ。古くから日本で使われているものや便利商品など、まだ海外では知られていない、実用的な道具の中から、今回は厳選した4点を紹介します！

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:50 Nata (Japanese hatchet)
2:01 Jika Tabi (split-toe footwear)
3:34 Fan Cooled Work Vest
6:09 Free Truck Service
6:35 Tripod Orchard Ladder

Nata（鉈 – ナタ）
It may not look special, but wait until you hold one in your hand! The nata is a traditional Japanese gardening tool that is terrific for cutting small branches; and smooth and fast cuts across the grain. With thick, durable blades, they are suited for chopping small wood, pruning, or thrashing through bamboo. The one I use in this video has a 165 mm blade (medium size) and comes with a wooden sheath with a belt loop and two separate securing clips. The Ebi (Shrimp-shaped) Nata has a guard at the end of the blade to prevent nicks when whacking close to the ground. A nata might make a wonderful gift for the outdoorsy person in your family. But don’t try to take one as a carry-on on an airplane!
Nata ¥5,698 (incl. tax) and Ebi Nata ¥3,938 (incl. tax)

Jika Tabi（地下足袋 – ジカタビ）
These are split-toe, mid-calf, outdoor footwear worn by gardeners, farmers, carpenters, workers, and ninja. Well, I’m not sure about ninjas. They were first worn in the Heian period and evolved from a wrap of animal skin with woven straw soles to cotton with rubber soles by 1923. Interestingly to people in Fukuoka, the Bridgestone company in Kurume first developed the rubber sole jika tabi in 1923. The split-toe design allows the big toe to anchor the foot and improves balance and grip. The thin soles are thick enough to smoothen the feel of rough surfaces while still maintaining incredible flexibility. Some athletes use jika tabi in training to prevent pain and stress, while others wear them for fashion, martial arts, and cosplay. The pair I wear in the video are the basic style and sell for only ¥2,178 (at Gooday.) They are an excellent and practical souvenir from Japan.
Jika Tabi ¥2,178 (incl. tax)

Fan Cooled Work Vest（ファン付き作業服）
I thought these were weird when I first saw them, but I immediately understood their value after trying one on. These vests have two multi-speed fans to circulate air around your chest, back, and neck, and help keep you cool while working in hot places. At the lowest power setting, the fans last 20 hours! They are particularly ideal for workplaces without air conditioning or fans such as roofing, tunnel work, hot kitchens, factories, or, as I demonstrate in the video, salt factories! Similar vests and jackets are now sold overseas though the concept originated in Japan. The vest I use in the video is very comfortable and features Bluetooth fan control connectivity as well as Made-in-Japan quality, reliability, and safety features.
Dickies x Volt Cool Vest Complete Set ¥19,998 (incl. tax)

Tripod Orchard Ladder（三本足脚立 – キャタツ）
How special can a ladder be? You won’t know until you step onto a tripod orchard ladder. For tree pruning and fruit picking, the tripod ladder is a game-changer. Its three-leg design allows you to position the ladder very close or actually inside the tree. It can also be safely set up on uneven ground. The extra-wide steps at the bottom are easy to climb and comfortable to stand on for a long time. Finally, its all-aluminum construction using welds (not hardware) results in a light yet durable build. Their large size makes them impractical as a souvenir from Japan, but if you live here and have a garden, I highly recommend getting one.
Tripod Orchard Ladder ¥20,680 (incl. tax)

GooDay One-Hour Free Self-drive Truck Service（トラック無料貸し出しサービス）
If you purchase any large size item at GooDay, you can borrow one of their pick-up trucks for an hour to take your goods home. Note that, you must return the truck within the hour, only the person who purchased the item can drive the truck, and that person must have a valid Japanese driver’s license.

▶︎ What are your favorite items at Japanese home centers?
▶︎ Any requests for future episodes?

GooDay x Kyushu Live – Home Center Secrets Episode 005
▼ Filmed in September, 2021 in Itoshima
▼ Prices and inventory are subject to change.
2021年9月撮影｜取扱商品や金額は変わることがあります

GooDay Website: https://gooday.co.jp/
There are 64 GooDay store locations in Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, Kumamoto and Yamaguchi prefectures. https://gooday.co.jp/shop/

Creator & Producer: Nick Szasz
Manager: Emiko Szasz
Video Editor: Kohji Shiiki