The Best Matsuzaki Scissors for Hairdressers
Matsuzaki is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1898 by Terukazu Matsuzaki in Tokyo, one of the oldest continuously operating scissor makers in Japan. The company, now trading as Matteck Matsuzaki Co., Ltd., has remained family-run for three generations and produces shears at its Seki City factory. The range spans thinning shears, standard cutting models, specialist texturisers, and a swivel-thumb ergonomic line. Five picks here cover the key positions from $400 to $1,099, all made in Japan.
What are the best Matsuzaki scissors?
The Fuzzy 5537, around $400, is Matsuzaki's entry thinning shear — a 37-tooth offset model in 5.5 inch for everyday blending from the Tokyo workshop. The ES, around $575, is the entry cutting model with a convex edge and offset handle in three sizes from 5.5 to 6.5 inch. The MLDS, around $785, steps up the cutting range with a refined ergonomic offset handle suited to all-day salon use. The Mantis 77, around $945, is a premium convex-edge cutting shear from the upper end of the Matsuzaki catalogue, available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The MWQ Swivel, around $1,099, puts a rotating thumb ring into a convex-edge cutting shear — Matsuzaki's dedicated ergonomic build for stylists managing wrist strain.
Matsuzaki’s range does not follow a published alloy hierarchy in the same way as some other Japanese makers; specific steel grades are not documented per model in the retailer catalogues. What runs across the range is consistent Seki City manufacture, convex edge construction on the cutting models, and an offset handle as the default geometry from the ES up. The Fuzzy series covers thinning from 37 teeth, and separate models handle texturising (the J-Rough 1250) and black titanium coating for corrosion resistance. The MWQ Swivel is the only swivel-thumb model currently catalogued. For current steel specifications and full model detail, see the Matsuzaki retailer listings or the official site at matsuzaki.jp.
Verified Jun 2026
Five Matsuzaki picks from $400 to $1,099
| Attribute | Matsuzaki Fuzzy 5537 Thinning Shears Matsuzaki | Matsuzaki ES Cutting Shears Matsuzaki | Matsuzaki MLDS Cutting Shears Matsuzaki | Matsuzaki Mantis 77 Cut R Cutting Shears Matsuzaki | Matsuzaki MWQ Cutting Swivel Shears Matsuzaki |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$400 | US$575 | US$785 | US$945 | US$1,099 |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium | Premium | Luxury | Luxury |
| Steel | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Made in | Japan (Seki City) | Japan (Seki City) | Japan (Seki City) | Japan (Seki City) | Japan (Seki City) |
| Handle | Offset | Offset | Offset | Offset | Swivel |
| Blade type | Thinning (37 teeth) | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5 | 5.5 · 6.0 · 6.5 | 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 | 5.5 · 6.0 |
| View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan by Matsuzaki (Matteck Matsuzaki Co., Ltd.). Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Matsuzaki scissors
Matsuzaki was founded in 1898 by Terukazu Matsuzaki in Tokyo. The company — now Matteck Matsuzaki Co., Ltd. — started in medical and surgical instruments and has remained in the founding family across three generations. All production sits in-house at a factory in Seki City, Japan, with the head office in Nerima-ku, Tokyo.
The range covers cutting shears, thinning shears, texturisers, and specialist ergonomic models. The 12 catalogued models carry guide prices from $400 to $3,825; most working-professional models sit between $400 and $1,099. The five picks below cover each main position in that practical range.
The five picks
1. Matsuzaki Fuzzy 5537 (guide price around $400). Matsuzaki’s entry thinning shear — a 37-tooth offset model in 5.5 inch, made in Seki City. The Fuzzy 5537 is the lowest-priced model in the catalogued Matsuzaki range and the starting point for stylists who want a Matsuzaki thinning shear for everyday blending and volume control. Available through Stay Sharp Shears and specialist Matsuzaki stockists. A colour-coated variant, the Matsuzaki Color Fuzzy 5537, sits at around $560 in the same 37-tooth configuration.
2. Matsuzaki ES (around $575). Matsuzaki’s entry cutting model, with a convex edge and offset handle in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. The ES is the widest size run of any Matsuzaki cutting model in the catalogue and the practical starting point for stylists moving into the Japanese professional cutting range. Made in Seki City. Available through Stay Sharp Shears and specialist Matsuzaki stockists.
3. Matsuzaki MLDS (around $785). Matsuzaki’s ergonomic offset cutting shear in 5.5 and 6.0 inch, built for all-day salon use. The MLDS sits mid-range in the Matsuzaki cutting catalogue, with a refined offset handle geometry and a convex edge. For stylists who want a step up from the ES in handle comfort for extended use. Made in Seki City. Available through Stay Sharp Shears and specialist Matsuzaki stockists.
4. Matsuzaki Mantis 77 (around $945). Matsuzaki’s upper-range cutting shear in 5.5 and 6.0 inch, with a convex edge and offset handle. The Mantis 77 sits above the EDS and MLDS in the Matsuzaki cutting hierarchy, carrying a premium convex edge from the Seki City workshop. Suited to stylists who want the top of the Matsuzaki professional cutting range at a guide price below four figures. Available through Stay Sharp Shears and specialist Matsuzaki stockists.
5. Matsuzaki MWQ Swivel (around $1,099). Matsuzaki’s rotating-thumb cutting shear in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The MWQ puts a swivel thumb ring into a convex-edge offset shear, allowing the wrist to hold a more neutral angle during the cutting stroke. The only swivel model in the catalogued Matsuzaki range. Suited to stylists managing wrist strain during long shifts. Available through Stay Sharp Shears and specialist Matsuzaki stockists.
How we chose
Each pick represents a distinct position in the Matsuzaki working-professional range. The Fuzzy 5537 covers thinning; the ES covers the entry cutting tier in the widest size run; the MLDS steps up the ergonomic profile for all-day use; the Mantis 77 reaches the upper end of the standard cutting range; and the MWQ Swivel addresses the specialist ergonomic case for wrist management. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Matsuzaki catalogue
The Matsuzaki EDS (around $799) and Matsuzaki SLB (around $799) offer alternative convex-edge offset cutting models at a similar price to the MLDS — the SLB with a slim blade profile suited to slide and point cutting work. The Matsuzaki Black Titanium (around $1,050) adds a black titanium coating to a convex offset shear for corrosion resistance. The Matsuzaki J-Rough 1250 (around $880) is the dedicated texturiser with wide-set teeth for heavy debulking. The full range, including the Matsuzaki Venus at the very top, is covered on the Matsuzaki brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Matsuzaki shears are made in Japan. The company’s head office and factory are in Nerima-ku, Tokyo, with production based at Seki City. Matteck Matsuzaki Co., Ltd. has maintained in-house production since founding in 1898.
Matsuzaki was founded in 1898 (Meiji 31) by Terukazu Matsuzaki in Tokyo. The company began in medical and surgical instruments before moving into hairdressing shears. Three generations of the founding family have run the business, and it has operated continuously for over 125 years.
The MWQ Swivel is Matsuzaki’s rotating-thumb cutting shear, built for stylists who find standard offset geometry hard on the wrist during long shifts. The thumb ring rotates independently of the blade pivot, allowing the wrist to stay in a more neutral position. Available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch at a guide price around $1,099, through Stay Sharp Shears.
The Fuzzy 5537 is Matsuzaki’s entry thinning shear — a 37-tooth offset model in 5.5 inch, listed at around $400. The Color Fuzzy 5537 is a colour-coated variant at around $560, carrying the same tooth configuration and handle geometry in an upgraded finish.