～Eburi: The Traditional Wooden Rake～
information
An eburi is a traditional Japanese agricultural tool resembling a hoe, featuring a long wooden handle attached to a wide horizontal board at the end. It is primarily used before rice planting to level the muddy soil of paddy fields (a process known as shirokaki, or puddling), as well as to gather harvested grains.
Primary Uses
Leveling paddy fields: Smoothing out the surface of the mud in wet rice fields.
Ground leveling: Flattening the soil in dry fields and gardens.
Gathering grains: Scraping together harvested crops and grains.
Structure
The tool consists of a long handle with a flat horizontal board attached to the end. Depending on the region and specific purpose, some versions feature a jagged, saw-toothed bottom edge on the board to help break up and level the soil more effectively.
