A Korean Farmer’s Hoe and a Japanese Grandmother’s Spoon

How can you strike it rich and become wealthy? Throughout history, many people have made fortunes with brilliant inventions and ideas. Let’s explore the stories behind some of them—and learn from their success so we can strike it rich, too.

Anyone with a lawn has to deal with dandelions every year. They’re so hardy that unless you pull them out by the roots, they’ll grow back just days after you remove them. You can use chemicals to get rid of them, but that may not feel safe if you have children at home.

A Korean hand hoe that helps effectively remove these troublesome dandelions is also popular in the United States. A hoe made by a Korean blacksmith in Yeongju is reportedly flying off the shelves on Amazon. It was made by Seok No-gi, a master craftsman named the top artisan in Gyeongsangbuk-do, who has been making sickles in Yeongju for 52 years.

The hoe is a traditional Korean farming tool that has been used for centuries. Its functions vary depending on the shape, angle, and length of its blade. Americans who have relied only on hand trowels are enthusiastic about the hoe’s sharp, angled blade and how effectively it works.

Koreans may take the hoe for granted. While products made with the latest technology are great, some traditional Korean items have the potential to become big hits. Items passed down through centuries of history have been tested by many people over a long period of time.

Meanwhile, it is said that 40% of people worldwide eat with their hands, 30% use a fork and knife, and the remaining 30% use chopsticks. In Asia, China and Japan primarily use chopsticks. Japan sometimes uses spoons, while Korea’s distinctive custom is to use both spoons and chopsticks.
The spoon is a traditional Korean eating utensil, used since ancient times to carry food from the dish to the mouth. With its long history and tradition, it offers important insight into Korean food culture. At a Korean table, spoons are placed alongside chopsticks.
Koreans’ spoon-centered eating habits are thought to stem from their preference for soup-based meals, a custom of eating quickly, and a taste for foods such as warm rice. For quickly eating large amounts of hot food—including soups and mixed-grain rice that is less sticky—a spoon is more practical and efficient than chopsticks.

In the past, the author would sometimes eat Japanese udon and accidentally drop the spoon into the broth. Korean spoons are long, while Japanese udon spoons are small enough to sink into the bowl. A Japanese woman came up with a slightly modified spoon that hooks onto the udon bowl, preventing it from falling in. Her hooked spoon became a big hit and is now a common sight.
Inventions that make everyday life more convenient can come from unexpected places. The Korean grandfather who keeps making quality hoes and the Japanese grandmother who invented the hooked spoon are good examples.
The English edition is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/100-Famous-Inventions-millionaire-invention/dp/1974314022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533241417&sr=8-1&keywords=100-Famous-Inventions-millionaire-invention&dpID=41Ey7U3ZISL&preST=_SY344_BO1,204,203,200_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Attorney Sang Lee · Registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office · J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law · Senior researcher, Landauer · Researcher, Panasonic · M.S. in Computer Science, University of Illinois · B.S. in Computer Science, University of Illinois
Contact: Email: sang@dream-law.com Phone: 847-357-1358 ext. 301 Fax: 847-357-1359