The Best Yasaka Scissors for Hairdressers
Yasaka is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1965 in Nara, Japan, operating as Yasaka Seiki Co., Ltd. The professional cutting range is built primarily around ATS-314 cobalt steel, with one VG-10 model at $292 and a traditional even-handle entry. Five picks here span $259 to $576, all made in Japan, across three handle configurations: traditional even, classic, and offset.
What are the best Yasaka scissors for professional hairdressers?
The Traditional, around $259, is Yasaka's entry professional model in ATS-314 with a traditional even (symmetric) handle — both rings at equal length, available in four sizes from 4.5 to 6.0 inch. The SSS VG10, around $292, is Yasaka's only VG-10 model in the cutting range, with a classic handle and convex edge. The YA, around $461, is the standard professional ATS-314 offset in three sizes from 5.0 to 6.0 inch. The SA Offset, around $513, applies a precision-ground convex edge to the ATS-314 offset configuration. The SL, around $576, sits near the top of the Yasaka range with refined blade geometry in ATS-314.
Four of the five picks use ATS-314 cobalt steel; the SSS VG10 is the one VG-10 model in the Yasaka cutting range. The Traditional uses a symmetric even handle; the SSS VG10 uses a classic handle; and the YA, SA Offset, and SL all use offset geometry. The gap between the $292 SSS VG10 and the $461 YA reflects how Yasaka’s range is structured — the even-handle and classic-handle models sit below $300, and the offset professional tier starts at $461.
Verified Jun 2026
The picks, at a glance
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Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
Five Yasaka picks from $259 to $576
| Attribute | Yasaka Traditional Cutting Scissors Yasaka | Yasaka SSS Japan VG10 Cutting Scissors Yasaka | Yasaka YA Hair Cutting Shears Yasaka | Yasaka SA Offset Precision Shears Yasaka | Yasaka SL Hair Cutting Scissors Yasaka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price guide | US$259 | US$292 | US$461 | US$513 | US$576 |
| Price tier | Mid-range | Mid-range | Premium | Premium | Premium |
| Steel | ATS-314 | VG-10 | ATS-314 | ATS-314 | ATS-314 |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Handle | Traditional | Classic | Offset | Offset | Offset |
| Blade type | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Sizes (in) | 4.5· 5.0· 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0· 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 | 5.5· 6.0 |
| Product links | View product | View product | View product | View product | View product |
All five made in Japan. Steel grades from product pages. Guide prices at time of writing; confirm current figures on each product page.
Yasaka’s range structure
Yasaka is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1965 in Nara, Japan. The professional cutting range is built primarily around ATS-314 cobalt steel and runs from $259 at entry through three offset tiers to $576 at the near-top, with one VG-10 model at $292.
The range breaks into two groups. At the lower tier: the Traditional ($259) in an even symmetric handle and the SSS VG10 ($292) in a classic handle — both under $300, different handle styles, and different steel grades. At the offset tier: the YA ($461), SA Offset ($513), and SL ($576) — all ATS-314, all offset, stepping through production standard and finish quality.
The gap between $292 and $461 reflects that structure directly. Stylists choosing between the Traditional and SSS VG10 are choosing between handle geometry and steel grade. Stylists choosing between the three offset models are evaluating finish tier within the same ATS-314 grade.
The five picks
1. Yasaka Traditional (guide price around $259). Yasaka’s entry professional model: ATS-314 cobalt steel, a hand-honed convex edge, and a symmetric handle with both rings at equal length. Sizes run 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch — the widest run on this page and the only pick available in 4.5 inch. The first choice for stylists who prefer symmetric grip geometry, cut with both hands, or want the widest size options in the Yasaka ATS-314 range. Available through Japan Scissors and Stay Sharp.
2. Yasaka SSS VG10 (around $292). Yasaka’s only VG-10 model in the cutting range, positioned as the premium of the pair under $300: VG-10 above the ATS-314 Traditional at a modest price step, in 5.5 inch with a classic handle and convex edge. For a stylist who wants Yasaka’s convex edge in VG-10 rather than ATS-314, this is the sole option.
3. Yasaka YA (around $461). The entry to Yasaka’s offset professional tier: ATS-314 cobalt steel, convex edge, standard offset geometry, in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch — the widest size run among the offset models on this page.
4. Yasaka SA Offset (around $513). Same ATS-314 grade as the YA, stepped up in edge finish — the precision-ground convex edge is the listed differentiator between the two. Offset handle, 5.5 and 6.0 inch, for stylists who prioritise exacting blade work.
5. Yasaka SL (around $576). Near the top of Yasaka’s cutting range: refined blade geometry is the product page’s primary differentiator above the SA Offset, at the highest production standard in the standard Yasaka offset line. ATS-314, convex edge, offset handle, 5.5 and 6.0 inch.
How we chose
Every pick is made in Japan with its steel grade listed on the product page. The five span two steel grades (ATS-314 and VG-10), three handle configurations (even, classic, offset), and $259 to $576. The Traditional is included for its symmetric even handle — a distinct product from the offset models for stylists who prefer that geometry. The SSS VG10 earns its place as the only VG-10 model in the Yasaka cutting range. Guide prices move; confirm current figures before buying.
Where to buy: every pick is stocked by Japan Scissors; the YA also goes through Scissor Dude and the SA Offset through Shear Integrity, with specialist Yasaka stockists carrying the rest of the range.
The wider Yasaka range
The Yasaka 7.0 Inch Barber (around $246) uses Hitachi ATS-314 with a hamaguri-ba clam-shell convex edge in a semi-offset handle at 7.0 inch — a barber-specific model. The Yasaka Dry Cut (around $461) pairs ATS-314 with blade geometry built for dry-cutting technique. Left-handed models are available in the Yasaka range. The full thinning range — including the Yasaka YS Thinning — is on the Yasaka brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What steel does Yasaka use in its professional scissors?
Most of Yasaka’s professional cutting range uses ATS-314 cobalt stainless steel. ATS-314 is a cobalt-enhanced stainless grade developed for blade applications, capable of reaching higher hardness than standard 440C. The one exception in this roundup is the SSS VG10, which uses VG-10 — a cobalt and vanadium alloy. Yasaka also produces 440C models in other parts of the range, including barber-specific models. Steel grades are listed on each product page — confirm the grade before buying.
What is the difference between the Yasaka Traditional and the SSS VG10?
The Traditional uses ATS-314 cobalt steel in a traditional even (symmetric) handle — both finger rings at equal length. It is available in 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The SSS VG10 uses VG-10 steel in a classic handle and is available in 5.5 inch only. The differences are steel grade, handle style, and size run: the Traditional gives a wider size choice at a lower price in ATS-314; the SSS VG10 is Yasaka’s only VG-10 model. The two models serve different handle preferences as much as different budgets.
What are the differences between the Yasaka YA, SA Offset, and SL?
All three use ATS-314 cobalt steel with an offset handle and a convex edge, made in Japan. The YA is the entry of the three — a three-size versatile cutting shear in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 inch. The SA Offset is positioned as precision-focused with a precision-ground convex edge, available in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The SL sits near the top of the range with refined blade geometry, also in 5.5 and 6.0 inch. The step from YA to SA Offset and SL is production standard and finish quality within the same ATS-314 grade. Confirm specifics on each product page.
Does Yasaka make left-handed scissors?
Yes. Yasaka’s catalogue includes left-handed models. See the Yasaka brand page for the full left-handed range. Left-handed models are built as mirror-image scissors with the blade orientation and thumb placement reversed — not simply swapped handles on a right-handed pair.
Does Yasaka make thinning scissors?
Yes. Yasaka makes thinning scissors. The full thinning range, including the YS Thinning model, is on the Yasaka brand page. This roundup covers only cutting models.