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Last updated: October 2026
Verified hair scissors manufacturers in Japan include TOKOSHA (Joewell) for cobalt salon catalogs, Hikari for Hamaguri-ba convex shears, and Mizutani for powder-metal or Stellite lines. KASHO and Yasaka Seiki supply distributor networks, Kikui (roughly 70%-cobalt styling shears) and Tokyo Riki accept domestic OEM inquiries, and MATSUOPRO appears first as our China OEM benchmark.
Japanese steel identifies the raw alloy rather than the country of manufacture. Salon distributors and new brands can use Japanese steel material options alongside origin labels, blade geometry, and order volume to match each factory.
Quick Picks
- Best for China-made Japanese-steel OEM comparison: MATSUOPRO.
- Best for broad salon blade and cobalt catalogs: TOKOSHA (Joewell).
- Best for convex-edge dry and wet cutting: Hikari Corporation.
- Best for ergonomic powder-metal or Stellite lines: Mizutani Scissors.
- Best for small-batch Japanese cobalt OEM: Kikui Scissors.
- Best for multi-tier Tokyo factory OEM: Tokyo Riki.
Disclosure: This guide is published by MATSUOPRO. We list ourselves first because this is our website, not because we claim to be the market leader. The other 7 manufacturers are grouped by what they’re best for, in no particular order within each group.
How We Selected These 7 Domestic Japan Makers and Our China Benchmark
We selected seven domestic Japanese manufacturers (entries 2 to 8) with verified scissor plants in Japanese prefectures, plus MATSUOPRO at No. 1 as our China OEM benchmark. Trading companies, overseas retail Japanese-steel brands like Ichiro and Juntetsu, directories, media sites, and used-tool dealers were excluded after checking official pages in October 2026.
This guide provides a list of confirmed scissor manufacturers rather than all workshops in Japan. Buyers wishing to find high-quality hair scissors must distinguish between Made in Japan craftsmanship and overseas shears using Japan steel.
Hair Scissors Manufacturers in Japan Compared
Top brands keep their Tokyo offices while their production plants or workshops make cutting blades in Iwate, Niigata, Chiba, Gifu, Nara, or Wakayama. Separating head offices from production plant prefectures helps hair professionals check the domestic capacity before placing an order for japan scissors.
Japan Shear Origin & Channel Matrix
Row 1 lists MATSUOPRO (1-piece stock-logo samples, 50-piece custom runs, and 100–200-piece colored or left-handed runs in China) as a transparent benchmark against rows 2 to 8. Among the seven domestic Japanese makers, Kikui (10-pair semi-custom) and Tokyo Riki advertise OEM production online, while five focus on branded distribution.
| No. | Company Name | Headquarters | Founded Year | Best For | Brief Introduction | Supply & Origin Scope | Key Advantages | Potential Disadvantages | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MATSUOPRO | Guangzhou, China | 2014 | China OEM benchmark | China shear factory | Made in China; Japanese steel | 1-piece sample; 50 pcs custom | Made in China (benchmark row) | https://mackayhairscissors.com/ |
| 2 | TOKOSHA (Joewell) | Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo | 1917 | Broad salon catalogs | Iwate factory maker | Made in Japan; national agents | CBA-1 cobalt; low-nickel handles | Sold via exclusive country agents | https://www.joewell.co.jp/eng/ |
| 3 | Hikari Corporation | Itabashi, Tokyo | — | Convex dry/wet cuts | Niigata handmade maker | Made in Japan; salon network | Pioneered Hamaguri-ba convex | Branded Hikari fit options only | https://hikari-scissors-intl.com/ |
| 4 | Mizutani Scissors | Matsudo-shi, Chiba | 1921 | Ergonomic powder-metal | Dual-plant Chiba maker | Made in Japan; distributors | 30-step craft; Nano Powder | Own-brand distribution; strict warranty | https://global.mizutani-scissors.com/en/ |
| 5 | KASHO (KAI Group) | Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo | 1908 (KAI Group) | Tension-disc distribution | KAI stylist division | Made in Japan (Seki plant) | Dual alloys; Disc System | Fixed KAI brand series | https://kasho.kaiusa.com/ |
| 6 | Yasaka Seiki | Ikoma-shi, Nara | 1965 | Uncoated ATS-314 | Nara scissor maker | Made in Japan; export/agent | Yasugi 440C and ATS314 | July 2026 counterfeit alert | https://yasakaseiki.co.jp/en/ |
| 7 | Kikui Scissors | Wakayama, Japan | 1953 | Small-batch cobalt OEM | Wakayama cobalt workshop | Made in Japan; brand/OEM | 10-pair semi; ~30-pair custom | No low-price rush volume | https://www.scissors.co.jp/en/ |
| 8 | Tokyo Riki | Itabashi-ku, Tokyo | 1925 | Multi-tier Tokyo OEM | Tokyo salon/pet maker | Made in Japan; brand/OEM | Four lines plus OEM | Direct Tokyo inquiry for OEM | https://www.tokyoriki.co.jp/en/ |
1. MATSUOPRO: Best for private-label buyers comparing Japanese-steel OEM runs in China against domestic Japan brands
Headquarters: Head Office in Guangzhou, China · Founded: 2014 · Type: vertically integrated shear factory in China.
Official website: https://mackayhairscissors.com/
Main products: hairdressing scissors, barber shears, thinning, swivel, and left-handed shears (4.5 to 7.5 inches).
Quality: Its About page lists an ISO 9001 system and BSCI/SGS audit statements.
MATSUOPRO runs plants in Guangzhou and Zhangjiagang, China rather than Japan. Its OEM page publishes six hardness tiers up to Takefu VG10 and ATS-314 (60 to 62 HRC), plus premium 440C steel for a matched shear set. Buyers testing OEM private-label hair shear production can order a 1-piece stocked sample or start custom runs from 50 pcs at wholesale prices. MATSUOPRO states that China-made shears shipped to the United States carry Made in China markings under 19 CFR Part 134, while colored or left-handed custom runs require 100 to 200 pieces.
1 pieceStocked sample
50 pcsCustom OEM minimum
60–62 HRCVG10 & ATS-314 tier
2. TOKOSHA (Joewell): Best for broad salon catalogs with documented blade and cobalt options
Headquarters: Honkomagome Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo · Founded: 1917 · Type: domestic Japanese manufacturer (Iwate Factory).
Official website: https://www.joewell.co.jp/eng/
Main products: hair cutting and thinning models, cutting scissors, and left-handed shears from 4.5 inches to about 8 inches.
Recognition: Named among Japan’s 300 Vibrant Monodzukuri SMEs (2007) with Good Design Awards (2006 to 2009).
TOKOSHA crafts Joewell hair cutting shears at its dedicated Iwate Factory. Its English specification page documents Cobalt Base Alloy CBA-1, vacuum-hardened Supreme Stainless Alloy, and convex or sword blades for smooth cutting. Most handles contain 0.1% or less nickel to reduce stylist skin allergies. International orders move through country-exclusive Joewell sales agents under the Joewell trademark.
3. Hikari Corporation: Best for precision convex-edge dry and wet cutting shears
Headquarters: 25-8 Saiwai Itabashi, Tokyo · Heritage: over 50 years per official overview · Type: handmade haircutting scissors maker (Niigata factory in Japan).
Official website: https://hikari-scissors-intl.com/
Main products: Hikari Convex Edge (Hamaguri-ba) blunt, dry-cut, and customized-grip scissors for hairdressing.
Process: Hand-adjusted blade curvature in Niigata with factory-certified technician servicing.
Hikari pioneered the clam-shell convex edge (Hamaguri-ba) so professional hairdressers can cut hair cleanly during wet work and dry cutting. Niigata craftsmen hone proprietary alloys into razor-sharp edges built for precision cuts. Hikari offers finger-ring resizing and handle swaps on its branded Hikari shears for outside scissor buyers.
4. Mizutani Scissors: Best for ergonomic series and powder-metal or Stellite salon shears
Headquarters: Matsudo-shi, Chiba Prefecture · Founded: 1921 · Type: handcrafted shear maker with Head Office Factory and Second Factory in Chiba.
Official website: https://global.mizutani-scissors.com/en/
Main products: Acro, Sword, Crossover, Stellite, Damascus, and Nano Powder Metal thinning scissors.
Process: Handmade 30 step process across two Matsudo plants.
Mizutani Scissors builds ergonomic handle design frames, including offset handle and true-lefty options for salon and barber work. Its lineup features HIP Nano Powder Metal, high-cobalt Stellite alloy, and sub-zero Extramarise steels. Serial numbers link each pair to authorized sharpening centers. Mizutani supplies shears under its own trademark through regional distributors, and its stated warranty excludes blades damaged by non-authorized sharpeners.
5. KASHO (KAI Group): Best for distributor-backed Japanese group manufacturing and tension-disc shears
Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo · Parent founded: 1908 (KAI Group) · Type: stylist division manufactured by KAI Industries in Seki-shi, Gifu.
Official website: https://kasho.kaiusa.com/
Main products: Millennium and XP Series convex hair cutting scissors, texturizers, and razors.
Process: Domestic Seki blade forging, laser-sensor hollow grinding, and the Disc Operation System.
KASHO’s published technical overview describes combining two different stainless steel alloys on its japanese shear blades to pair edge hardness with spine resilience. Flagship series use a ball-bearing Disc Operation System to keep tension uniform for each stylist. Regional KAI divisions supply these professional tools strictly as branded KASHO catalog series through authorized distributors.
6. Yasaka Seiki: Best for uncoated ATS-314 cobalt and specialty stainless barber and salon shears
Headquarters: Ikoma-shi, Nara · Founded: 1965 · Type: in-house Japanese maker and exporter of professional hairdressing scissors.
Official website: https://yasakaseiki.co.jp/en/
Main products: CUTTING & THINNING lines, steel hair cutting scissors, and long japanese barber blades.
Process: Vacuum quenching and sub-zero treatment in Nara using Proterial Yasugi steels.
Yasaka specifies scrap-free Proterial Yasugi 440C and Yasugi ATS314 cobalt stainless steels alongside Takefu VG10 across its japan shears range. Clam-ground edges give each barber scissor durable sharpness without surface coatings, and Nara handles factory resharpening. A July 2026 official notice warns buyers against counterfeit Yasaka cutting tools sold by unauthorized sellers.
7. Kikui Scissors: Best for small-batch Japanese semi-custom and OEM cobalt shears
Headquarters: 2-2-31 Kozaika, Wakayama · Founded: 1953 · Type: Japanese workshop running a built-to-order system for brand and OEM orders.
Official website: https://www.scissors.co.jp/en/
Main products: Cobalt alloy styling scissors (~70% cobalt), cutting and thinning models, and school shears.
Recognition: Cobalt series won Japan’s Good Design Award (2015) per corporate history.
Kikui finishes each japanese brand order in Wakayama on a built-to-order workshop schedule, helping stylists thin dense hair sections cleanly. Its Japanese OEM page states 10 pairs minimum for semi-custom adjustments on existing models and roughly 30 pairs for full-custom original shears with logo engraving. That lets boutiques deal with japanese manufacturers directly, though Kikui states its small workshop can’t fulfill low-price, short-lead-time, or mass-volume orders.
10 pairsSemi-custom OEM minimum
~30 pairsFull-custom OEM guideline
WakayamaBuilt-to-order cobalt plant
8. Tokyo Riki: Best for established Japanese factory OEM and multi-tier salon shear lines
Headquarters: Nakadai, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo · Founded: 1925 · Type: Japanese shear maker advertising MAKE OEM SCISSORS services.
Official website: https://www.tokyoriki.co.jp/en/
Main products: Butterfly, PIONEER, Alucoba, and Hakucho hair shears and hair thinning lines.
Process: In-house Tokyo plant (built 1970) using single-craftsman hand finishing.
Tokyo Riki focused solely on scissors in 1997 and builds multi-tier stainless steel scissors, including offset hair cutting shears and cobalt models. Its English corporate page states: “We can also make OEM scissors.” Direct email inquiry to its Tokyo head office is the route for custom OEM order quantities, pricing, and export schedules.
How to Choose a Hair Scissors Manufacturer in Japan
When choosing suppliers of Japanese hair scissors, distinguish between branded distribution, domestic workshop OEMs, and Japanese steel production overseas. Based on your mark of origin, service network, and budget per unit, sample for a professional salon line.
6-Point Japan Shear Factory Audit
- Verify actual production sites in Iwate, Niigata, Chiba, Gifu, Nara, Wakayama and/or Tokyo rather than a sales office.
- Check whether the factory advertises OEM branding (Kikui, Tokyo Riki) or focuses on branded territory distribution.
- Confirm convex sharpening support for cobalt, powder-metal, and 440C and VG10 blades; see our guide on evaluating Japanese shear steel grades.
- Pair each cutting style and hair styling task with appropriate blade profiles (convex or sword), screws (flat or ball-bearing) and other critical components.
- Set cut percentage targets on thinning shears and texturizing scissors, in addition to tooth counts.
- Check reversed blade overlap and bevel orientation on true left-handed professional salon cutting shears or a barber shear range.
Domestic Japan Factory Route
- Domestic Japanese makers (entries 2 to 8) build shears in Japan that qualify for Made in Japan origin marking.
- Japanese factory channels fit brand dealerships or Kikui OEM orders starting at 10 pairs for semi-custom existing models and roughly 30 pairs for full-custom original shears.
- Japanese workshop output follows artisan hand-finishing schedules.
MATSUOPRO China OEM Benchmark Route
- MATSUOPRO’s China-based OEM production pairs 440C steel, VG10, or ATS-314 blades with Made in China origin marking rather than Japanese origin.
- MATSUOPRO custom OEM runs with private logos, coatings, and cases start at 50 pieces, while colored or left-handed orders require 100 to 200 pieces.
- MATSUOPRO scaled factory tooling balances best quality blade alloys with predictable wholesale unit cost.
Are All Japanese Professional Scissors Made in Seki City?
No. Seki in Gifu Prefecture, home of KASHO blades, has numerous cutlery manufacturing plants, yet many of the best Japanese hair scissors come from other prefectures. Tokosha Joewell manufactures in Iwate, Hikari works in Niigata, Mizutani runs two plants in Chiba, Yasaka is in Nara, and Kikui is in Wakayama.
Which Document Supports the Origin of an Exact Scissor Model?
Published corporate factory profiles of Japanese companies, when coupled with domestic factory serial or service records, support model-level Japanese origin determination. Steel terms, including alloy designations such as VG10, ATS-314, and generic premium steel labels, do not indicate the location where shears were forged and manufactured.
Because premium japanese scissors are known to be hand-honed to tolerance, the named maker or listed country distributor is the point of contact to control territory rights, determine the production schedule, and arrange for factory resharpening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best hair scissors manufacturer in Japan for salon distribution vs private label?
TOKOSHA (Joewell), Hikari, Mizutani, KASHO, and Yasaka Seiki fit authorized salon distribution of domestic Japanese trademarks, whereas Kikui Scissors and Tokyo Riki publicly accept Japanese OEM or semi-custom inquiries. Buyers who use japanese alloys like VG10 or ATS-314 for scalable own-brand hair cutting tools can also compare MATSUOPRO’s China-based OEM benchmark program.
How should I verify a seller for a Japanese scissor brand?
Check the manufacturer’s official Japanese corporate website for its listed country distributor or regional subsidiary before paying any wholesale invoice or deposit. Houses such as Mizutani, Hikari, Joewell, and KASHO publish official partner directories and serial-number servicing rules, helping salon buyers avoid lookalike domains, gray-market brokers, and counterfeit steel hairdressing scissors sold online.
Which Japanese brands have left-handed scissors?
Published catalogs from TOKOSHA (Joewell), Hikari, Mizutani, KASHO, Yasaka Seiki, and Kikui Scissors include dedicated left-handed scissor options, though model availability varies by series. When ordering wholesale salon stock or custom private-label runs, confirm that every lefty SKU uses reversed true-left blade overlap and handle ergonomics so stylists get the perfect scissors for natural wrist alignment.
Does Japanese steel mean the scissors are made in Japan?
No. Marketing phrases like premium japanese steel and alloy designations don’t establish where finished shears were forged or assembled. Factories in China, Taiwan, or Pakistan routinely manufacture finished shears from imported Japanese alloy stock.
How much do wholesale or custom hair scissors from Japanese manufacturers cost?
Japanese manufacturers price custom and wholesale hair scissors per project, with no single universal published price list. Unit cost shifts with best steel grade, convex hand-honing labor, bearing hardware, and batch tier, such as Kikui’s 10-pair semi-custom versus roughly 30-pair full-custom runs. Request itemized quotes separating blades, logo work, cases, and freight to compare best hairdressing options for quality hair work.
Do all Japanese hair shear factories accept private-label logo orders?
No. Flagship houses like Mizutani, Hikari, Joewell, and KASHO supply branded lines, while workshops such as Kikui Scissors and Tokyo Riki advertise OEM production.
Compare Japanese-steel OEM options for your shear brand
Projects needing legal Made in Japan marking should contact Kikui or Tokyo Riki directly. For China-made private-label runs in VG10, ATS-314, or 440C starting from 50 pcs (100 to 200 pieces for colored or lefty orders), request an itemized OEM quote from MATSUOPRO with your sizes and case specs.
This guide was prepared using manufacturers’ published corporate profiles, alloy specifications, and OEM pages, accessed in October 2026.
References & Sources
- Official corporate profiles, alloy sheets, and OEM pages from TOKOSHA (Joewell), Hikari, Mizutani, KAI Group / KASHO, Yasaka Seiki, Kikui, Tokyo Riki, and MATSUOPRO (checked October 2026).
- U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 19 CFR Part 134: Country of Origin Marking (eCFR).
