Top 10 Japanese Scissor Brands: 6 We Stock and 4 to Know
The top 10 Japanese scissor brands: who each maker is, what it's known for and where to start. Six we stock, plus Mizutani, Hikari, Yamato and Fuji.
By SalonScissors editorial team Updated
How we chose: Six brands we stock, premium makers first, then four we don’t sell. We sell the six and haven’t run cutting tests. Prices checked 15 October 2026.
More on how we chose
Each stocked brand’s count and price range covers every cutting scissor we list for it, and updates with our product pages. The four makers we don’t sell are described from their own sites or their distributor’s.
1. Joewell: Tokyo’s classic since 1917
- Who they are
- Tokosha’s scissor brand. The Tokyo company was founded in 1917.
- Known for
- The Classic, Joewell’s standard model since 1975, plus FX 3D handles and specialist thinners like the SNT and HXG.
- In our range
- 20 cutting scissors, from A$349 to A$999
- Left-handed
- 3 left-handed cutters
Start with the Classic if you like level rings. Cut offset? Look at the FX and its 3D handle instead. Left-handers should go straight to the FX LEFTY or LC LEFTY, because the Classic listing doesn’t state a hand.
Joewell Classic Hair Cutting Scissors
Best for your first Joewell, with level rings
Who it’s for
- Salon
- Barber
- Left-handed
Skip it if you’re after a first pair on a tight budget
2. Kasho: KAI’s professional range
- Who they are
- The professional scissor brand of KAI, a blade maker founded in 1908 in Seki City, Gifu.
- Known for
- The Design Master’s ratchet tension screw, and the SG2 Millennium, which KAI says needs no oiling or tension adjusting.
- In our range
- 18 cutting scissors, from A$349 to A$1,349
- Left-handed
- 2 left-handed cutters
Kasho has the widest price spread of the six, from a mid-price first pair to the top end. Start with the Design Master Offset, and save the Millennium for when you know exactly what you want.
Kasho Design Master Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
Best for a first Kasho, with a ratchet tension screw
Who it’s for
- Salon
- Left-handed
Skip it if your budget stops at A$300
3. Yasaka: classic handles from Nara
- Who they are
- Yasaka Seiki, a scissor maker in Ikoma, Nara, founded in 1965.
- Known for
- The SA straight handle, the 3D-handle KM, and 440C, ATS314 and VG10 steels.
- In our range
- 15 cutting scissors, from A$379 to A$499
- Left-handed
- 1 left-handed cutter
Yasaka keeps it simple. The SA is the straight-handle classic, with a 60 mm blade on the 5.5”. Barbers get a 7.0”, and left-handers get their own Yasaka LEFT.
Yasaka SA Classic Precision Scissors
Best for a classic straight handle
Who it’s for
- Salon
- Barber
- Left-handed
4. Juntetsu: VG10 and cobalt for less
- Who they are
- An independent Japanese brand, and the biggest cutter range we stock.
- Known for
- VG10 and cobalt cutters, long Sword blades, Chomper texturisers and leather holsters.
- In our range
- 31 cutting scissors, from A$249 to A$629.95
- Left-handed
- None in our range
With that many models, it’s easy to get lost. Start with the VG10 Offset: one cutter, five sizes from 4.5” to 7.0”, same price for each. Every Juntetsu cutter we stock is right-handed.
Juntetsu VG10 Offset Hair Cutting Scissors
Best for a VG10 offset pair in the size you need
Who it’s for
- Salon
- Barber
Skip it if you cut left-handed
5. Ichiro: from apprentice to premium
- Who they are
- An independent Japanese brand, with apprentice, everyday and premium lines.
- Known for
- The Ergo apprentice pair, the Rose Lefty, Kawa swivel thumbs and the VG-10 Taiyo.
- In our range
- 27 cutting scissors, from A$199 to A$369.95
- Left-handed
- 5 left-handed cutters
Ichiro covers your first years behind the chair. The Ergo is the apprentice pair, and the Taiyo is the step up when you’re ready.
Ichiro Ergo Apprentice Hair Cutting Scissor
Best for apprentices who want a convex slice edge
Who it’s for
- Salon
- Apprentice
- Left-handed
6. Mina: the budget brand
- Who they are
- An independent Japanese brand, and the lowest-priced range we stock.
- Known for
- The Umi and Sakura II, the Dark Gem for barbers, and cutter-and-thinner sets.
- In our range
- 12 cutting scissors, from A$114.95 to A$149.95
- Left-handed
- 3 left-handed cutters
Mina is the one for a first pair, a backup or a course kit. The Umi comes in right- and left-handed sizes at the same price.
Mina Umi Hair Cutting Scissors
Best for a first pair or a backup
A$114.95
View Mina Umi Hair Cutting ScissorsWho it’s for
- Barber
- Apprentice
- Left-handed
7. Mizutani: premium steels since 1921
Not sold here
- Who they are
- Mizutani Scissors Mfg., founded in 1921, with its head office and both factories in Matsudo, Chiba (company page).
- Known for
- The ACRO series and premium materials: Stellite alloy, Powder Damascus, Nano Powder Metal and its own Extramarise cobalt alloys (Mizutani’s site).
The steel changes from model to model, so read it on the exact pair you’re comparing.
8. Hikari: handmade in Niigata since 1967
Not sold here
- Who they are
- Hikari Corporation, established in 1967, with its head office in Itabashi, Tokyo, and factories in Agano, Niigata (company page).
- Known for
- Its main Cosmos series, plus LEFTY models and thinners, all handmade in Niigata, Hikari says.
Left-handed? Hikari has a whole LEFTY range, so ask for the left-handed model by name.
9. Yamato: made at the Fuji MoreZ plant
Not sold here
- Who they are
- A Japanese brand with no maker site we can link. Its European distributor says Yamato scissors are made at the Fuji MoreZ plant in Sakai.
- Known for
- Cobalt-alloy cutters such as the Royal, Sevian and Wing N, sold through specialist shops in the UK and Ireland.
With no maker specs to read, ask the seller for the model, steel, size and hand in writing.
10. Fuji MoreZ: hand-made in Sakai, Osaka
Not sold here
- Who they are
- A scissor maker in Sakai, Osaka, a city with centuries of blade making. Its logo reads Fuji MoreZ.
- Known for
- Hand-made scissors, each stamped with its own serial number, its distributor says.
Comparing Fuji with Yamato? They come out of the same Sakai plant, so compare the models, not the names.
Need a razor? Feather
Feather isn’t a scissor brand. It’s a Japanese razor maker, working since 1932. Start with the styling razor and a pack of its blades.
Feather Styling Razor Standard Handle Type
Best for razor cutting and texture work
Common questions
Which Japanese scissor brand is best?
It depends on your budget and handle. For a premium pair, start with Joewell, Kasho or Yasaka. For a first pair or a backup, start with Mina or Ichiro. Juntetsu sits in between.
Are Mina, Ichiro and Juntetsu Japanese brands?
Yes. They’re independent Japanese brands. As with any brand, where a model is made depends on the model, so ask us if that matters to you.
Which brands make left-handed scissors?
Five of the six we stock: Joewell, Kasho, Yasaka, Ichiro and Mina. We don’t stock a left-handed Juntetsu. Of the four we don’t sell, Hikari has a whole LEFTY range. Our 10 left-handed cutters compares the ones we stock.
Are Yamato and Fuji the same maker?
They share a factory. Yamato’s European distributor says Yamato scissors are made at the Fuji MoreZ plant in Sakai, but the two are sold as separate brands with their own models.
Why isn’t Kamisori on the list?
Kamisori is a Canadian brand, based in Markham, Ontario, with Japanese-inspired designs. Some models are made in Japan, but this list sticks to Japanese brands. You’ll find it in our Kamisori range.
Next step
Know the brand but not the model? Our top 10 Japanese hair scissors picks ten across the makers we stock. Or let the scissor finder narrow it by hand, size and budget. Weighing a brand that isn’t on this list? Our Hattori Hanzo profile covers an American brand of Japanese-steel shears and what to check before buying.
Two brand head-to-heads: Ichiro vs Juntetsu and Kasho vs Kamisori.
Comparing scissors for your kit?
Tell us what you cut and which scissors you are comparing.
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