Mina vs Ichiro Scissors: Which Value Brand Suits You?

Both brands make offset cutters, 30-tooth thinners and matching sets. The difference is price, and how far each range goes.

Mina vs Ichiro at a glance

	Mina	Ichiro
Single cutters	From A$114.95	From A$199.95
Cutter and thinner sets	From A$174.95	From A$229.95
Left-handed	Umi, Rainbow II and Jay II	Rose Lefty, plus Left on Black, Rose Gold and more
Specialist tools	Double-swivel Sakura, long Dark Gem	16-tooth texturiser, swivel-thumb Kawa, wide Sword

When Mina makes more sense

Mina gets a working kit into your hands for the least money.

• You want a cutter and thinner on a tight budget. The Umi set is both for A$174.95.
• You cut left-handed. The Umi cutter, thinner and set all come in Left, and the Rainbow II cutter runs from 4.5” to 7.0” in Left.
• You need an unusual length. Umi cutters go from 4.5” to 7.0” right-handed.

Our pick: the Mina Umi set. Keep in mind: the Umi cutter has a flat edge. For a convex edge at a similar price, look at the Sakura II, which is right-handed only.

When Ichiro makes more sense

Ichiro costs more, and the range goes further once you know what you need.

• You want a convex slice edge from day one. The Ergo set’s 5.5” cutter has one.
• You’ll add specialist tools. Ichiro has a 16-tooth texturiser, the Kawa chunker or blender, a swivel-thumb Kawa and wide Sword blades.
• You want VG-10 steel later. The Taiyo and Tsuki Black cutters are VG-10.

Our pick: the Ichiro Ergo set, with the 5.5” convex slice cutter. Keep in mind: it’s right-handed only. Left-handers can start with the Rose Lefty cutter.

Which set gives you more?

Both sets are one offset cutter and one 6”, 30-tooth thinner. Here’s where they differ:

	Mina Umi set	Ichiro Ergo set
Cutter edge	Flat	5.5” convex slice, or 6.0” micro-serrated
Hands	Right or Left	Right only
Cutter sizes	4.5” to 7.0” (Left: 5.5”, 6.0”)	5.5” or 6.0”
Price	A$174.95	A$229.95

Pick the Umi set for price, size choice or a left-handed kit. Pick the Ergo set if you want the convex slice edge.

Common questions

Is Ichiro better than Mina?

Not better, different. Ichiro costs more and goes further into texturisers, swivel handles and VG-10 steel. Mina gets you a working kit for less, in more left-handed options.

Which is better for left-handers?

Mina, if price matters: the Umi cutter, thinner and set all come in Left, and the Umi cutter is A$114.95. Ichiro’s Rose Lefty cutter is A$199.

Are the thinners in the two sets the same?

Both are 6”, 30-tooth thinners, but they’re different scissors. Tooth shape changes how much hair a thinner takes, so read the cut ratio guide before you rely on tooth count.

Can I buy the cutter and thinner separately?

Yes. The Umi cutter and Umi thinner are A$114.95 each on their own, and the Ergo cutter and Ergo thinner are A$199.95 each. The sets are A$174.95 and A$229.95.

Still deciding?

The scissor finder shortlists pairs from both brands by hand, size and budget. For more first-kit options, see the best Japanese scissors or the apprentice kit guide.

Weighing Ichiro against a brand with level-ring options? See Ichiro vs Juntetsu.