We may say this every year, but THIS year’s Niwaki catalogue really does have the finest selection of great stuff from Japan available this side of Cape Irizaki. And what’s more, it will soon be landing on doorsteps up and down the country, tantalising and enticing gardening connoisseurs with a trug-ful of tools, gear, tripod ladders, homeware and much, much more.

With over 300 different products, this year’s publication is packed tighter than a Shinjuku Line carriage at rush hour (and trust me, that’s packed). Where else will you find a Japanese Grater (p.55), the best shears money can buy (p.19), a canvas apron emblazoned with Eley Kishimoto’s iconic flash pattern (p.29) and kitchen knives (pp.54–59) so sharp they’ll make your old knives feel like something unearthed next to mammoth bones in the back of a cave? Well, there’s this website I suppose, but you can’t get your red pen out, circling what you fancy on a website can you?