Niwaki
Niwaki (which means garden tree) is an Anglo-Japanese gardening lifestyle brand that blends practical design and timeless style with Japanese craftsmanship. They’re best known for their carbon-steel gardening tools, including the much-loved Hori Hori Pro, alongside homeware, woodworking tools, and an ever-expanding selection of workwear and accessories.
The company was founded in 2007 by author and pruning expert Jake Hobson, who first travelled to Japan in 1996 to experience hanami, the annual cherry blossom festival. The trip sparked a lasting interest in the country’s philosophy and horticulture, and he went on to spend a year in Osaka learning everything he could about the distinctly Japanese approaches to nurturing and shaping trees. Back in England, he realised the tools he’d come to rely on in a Japanese nursery were just as valuable (and sought after) in Western gardens, and with the help of his wife Keiko and brother-in-law Haruyasu, he began importing them to the UK. It all grew from there.
You can now find Niwaki showrooms in Semley (Shaftesbury) and on Chiltern Street in London. Each location offers a broad selection of “great stuff from Japan” – Niwaki’s tag line – made from high-quality materials and built to last.
If you’re new to the brand, the latest Gift Edit is an ideal place to start, featuring everything from luxury, handmade tools to gift bundles and playful stocking fillers, like the ever-popular Daikon Fridge Magnet. Seasonal highlights include the Dan-Ten Quilted Jacket (cosy indoor/outdoor essential), Eley Kishimoto Flash Pouches, Mini Kantan Bags, and the Sentei Gift Set (featuring two of Niwaki’s finest carbon-steel tools, presented in a Paulownia box and wrapped in tenugui cotton).
If you’re still working outdoors and need products as hardy as yourself, the Niwaki Winter Gloves, Split Front Apron, and Masakari Hatchet are more than capable of seeing you through the colder months.
As well as showing a deep-rooted respect for the craftsmanship that goes into each product, the team at Niwaki also explore and engage with the wider horticultural world where they operate. This inquisitive spirit is best captured in the Niwaki Field Report, an annual publication that collects insights from their privileged access to top garden designers and writers and the spaces that inspire them.
Visit niwaki.com to discover more, and sign up for their newsletter to be the first to hear about new product launches, events, and exclusive discounts.
