The Best Osaka Scissors for Hairdressers
Osaka is an Australian scissor brand based in Sydney, with scissors manufactured in Japan. The cutting range climbs from Japanese Steel at entry through Hitachi 440C across the mid-tier and VG-10 in the professional range to ATS-314 at the top. Along the way it picks up some distinct hardware — hollow-ground blades on the GX, a double rotational axis swivel on the Vega Swivel, titanium coating and an indented thumb ring on the Hades, and a curved crane handle on the CR. Five picks span $150 to $471.
What are the best Osaka scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Vega, around $150, is Osaka's Japanese Steel entry scissor with a convex edge and removable finger rest in two sizes. The GX, around $192, is the Hitachi 440C hollow-ground model with a dovetail finger rest in three sizes. The Vega Swivel, around $250, puts Hitachi 440C in a double rotational axis swivel thumb handle across three sizes. The Hades, around $406, is the VG-10 model with a titanium black coating and indented thumb ring in three sizes. The CR, around $471, is the ATS-314 curved crane model in three sizes.
The Vega and GX use Japanese Steel and Hitachi 440C respectively at the entry professional tiers. The Vega Swivel steps to Hitachi 440C with a double rotational axis swivel handle. The Hades uses VG-10 with a titanium black surface coating. The CR is the top steel pick — ATS-314 cobalt steel — and the only model with a curved crane handle in this list. All five are manufactured in Japan.
Verified Jun 2026
The picks, at a glance
Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
Five Osaka picks from $150 to $471
| Attribute | Osaka Vega Cutting Scissors Osaka | Osaka GX Cutting Scissors Osaka | Osaka Vega Swivel Cutting Scissors Osaka | Osaka Hades Cutting Scissors Osaka | Osaka CR Cutting Scissors Osaka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$150 | US$192 | US$250 | US$406 | US$471 |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Entry-level | Mid-range | Premium | Premium |
| Steel | Not listed | 440C | 440C | VG-10 | ATS-314 |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Offset | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sizes (in) | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 | 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0· 6.5 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five manufactured in Japan. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Osaka’s Japan-manufactured range
Osaka is an Australian scissor brand based in Sydney, with scissors manufactured in Japan. The cutting range is organised by steel grade — Japanese Steel at the entry professional tier, Hitachi 440C across the mid-range, VG-10 in the professional line, and ATS-314 at the top — with several models adding distinct handle and blade features along the way.
The five picks below span $150 to $471, covering four steel grades across three handle configurations (standard offset, double swivel, and curved crane) and two blade treatments (convex and hollow-ground convex).
The five picks
1. Osaka Vega (guide price around $150). Osaka’s Japanese Steel entry cutting scissor: convex edge, offset handle, removable finger rest, in 5.5 and 6.0 inch — the two standard salon lengths. The way into the Osaka cutting range at its lowest price. Available through Chris & Sons, Scissors Craft, and DOWA International.
2. Osaka GX (around $192). The step into Hitachi 440C, with a hollow-ground blade — a slight concave hollow on the flat face that lightens the blade and reduces drag through the cut. A dovetail finger rest completes the build, and the three sizes (5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch) include a 5.0 option for shorter detail work.
3. Osaka Vega Swivel (around $250). The swivel pick at the 440C tier: a double rotational axis swivel thumb, rotating on two planes through the cutting stroke, on a super ergo handle. Three sizes — 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. For stylists who want a swivel thumb without leaving the mid-range.
4. Osaka Hades (around $406). Where the range steps up to VG-10 cobalt steel. A titanium black surface coating and a super ergo handle with an indented thumb hole round it out, in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. The $406 guide price is the cost of entry to VG-10 in the Osaka cutting range.
5. Osaka CR (around $471). The top steel tier on this page — ATS-314 cobalt steel — and the only model with a curved crane handle. That handle shape lowers the elbow during the cutting stroke, which may reduce shoulder and arm fatigue across a long session. Three sizes: 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. Available through Chris & Sons and DOWA International.
How we chose
All five are manufactured in Japan. Four steel grades (Japanese Steel, Hitachi 440C, VG-10, ATS-314) and three handle configurations (standard offset, double swivel, curved crane) are covered across $150 to $471. The GX earns its place for the hollow-ground blade; the Vega Swivel for the double-axis swivel mechanism; the Hades for the VG-10 step with titanium coating; and the CR for the top-tier ATS-314 steel and curved crane handle. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
The wider Osaka range
The Osaka A5 Barber (around $135) is the entry barber-specific model — Japanese Steel with a removable finger rest in 6.0 and 6.5 inch, at the most accessible price in the range. The Osaka C4 (around $159) is a Hitachi 440C model with thin blades and an ergo handle in 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 inch — the only Osaka cutting model available from 4.5 inch. The Osaka TA (around $250) is a Hitachi 440C model with a slightly flared blade and super ergo handle in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The Osaka MT (around $380) is a VG-10 convex shear with a super ergo handle in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch. Thinning scissors and additional cutting models are on the Osaka brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Osaka based and what steel does it use?
Osaka is an Australian brand based in Sydney, and its scissors are manufactured in Japan — each product page lists Japan as country of manufacture. The cutting range uses Japanese Steel at entry, Hitachi 440C across the mid-tier, VG-10 in the professional range, and ATS-314 at the top. For full manufacturing and steel specifications, consult the Osaka brand website.
What is hollow-ground on the Osaka GX?
The GX product page lists hollow-ground blades. A hollow-ground blade has a slight concave hollow on the flat face — the grinding removes material from the flat side, lightening the blade and reducing drag through the hair during the cutting stroke. It is distinct from a flat-ground blade (no hollow) and from the convex grind (where the edge curves outward). The GX also carries a dovetail finger rest and comes in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch.
What is the double rotational axis swivel on the Osaka Vega Swivel?
The Vega Swivel product page lists a double rotational axis swivel thumb with a super ergo handle. A double rotational axis swivel lets the thumb ring rotate on two planes rather than one, giving a greater range of natural movement through the cutting stroke than a single-axis swivel. The Vega Swivel is available in 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 inch.
What is the curved crane handle on the Osaka CR?
The CR product page lists a curved crane shape. A crane handle positions the finger ring lower than the thumb ring, creating a downward-angled profile when the scissor is held, and the curved version adds a bend to the handle body to adjust the hand and wrist position further. The CR uses ATS-314 cobalt steel and comes in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. For full specifications on the curved crane geometry, consult the product page or Osaka brand website.
Does Osaka make thinning scissors?
Yes. Osaka makes thinning and texturizing scissors including the Sakura (hybrid design), the Styx (micro-serrated blade tip), and others in the thinning range. This roundup covers cutting scissors only. The full thinning range is on the Osaka brand page.