Etaro
- USA
- Est. 2011
-
Budget Luxury
Etaro is a USA-based scissor line by Hikari Products launched in 2011, offering convex-edge shears finished in Gardena, California from Japanese steel.
E for Edmund Tsuji of Hikari USA, Taro for Fukutaro Takahashi of Hikari Japan: the Etaro shear line, launched in 2011, is named for both companies’ founders and puts Hikari’s convex edge at a lower price point than the main Hikari line. Certified craftsmen reshape, sharpen, and polish each pair...
E for Edmund Tsuji of Hikari USA, Taro for Fukutaro Takahashi of Hikari Japan: the Etaro shear line, launched in 2011, is named for both companies’ founders and puts Hikari’s convex edge at a lower price point than the main Hikari line. Certified craftsmen reshape, sharpen, and polish each pair in Gardena, California; the 9 catalogued models run $249 to $450 at guide prices, 5.0 to 7.0 inches.
Brand Background
Etaro is a scissor line launched in 2011 by Hikari Products USA, Inc. (HPI), the American division of Hikari Corporation. The brand was created to offer Hikari’s convex blade technology at a lower price point than the main Hikari line. Etaro scissors are positioned for stylists who want professional level performance without the investment that a full Hikari model requires.
Name Origin
The name Etaro comes from the founders of Hikari USA and Hikari Japan. The “E” represents Edmund Tsuji, who apprenticed under Fukutaro Takahashi at Hikari Japan. “Taro” comes from Fukutaro’s name. According to Hikari USA, Edmund Tsuji is the only American to have trained under Takahashi’s direct instruction.
Manufacturing Process
At Hikari’s facility in Gardena, California, Hikari certified craftsmen reshape and sharpen the blades to create Hikari’s convex edge profile. The blades are balanced and polished in the United States before shipping.
Product Range and Pricing
Etaro’s lineup covers cutting scissors, thinning scissors, and left handed models. The brand’s specialties include sculpting, shaping, finishing, texturizing, angle cutting, and both line and no line demarcation cuts. Retail pricing for Etaro shears starts around $269, which places the brand well below premium Japanese lines while still offering a hand finished convex edge.
Sources
- Hikari Products USA official website: hikariscissors.com
- Hikari corporate product information
See Also
Where to Buy
Etaro at a glance
- Budget
- Mid-range $200–400
- Makes
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors
- Based in
- USA
- Catalogue
- 9 models listed
- Established
- 2011
Product Types
Specialties
Materials & Construction
The steel, edges, and handle styles Etaro works in:
Where to Buy
Authorized Retailers
Retailers stocking Etaro
ScissorPedia catalogues 1 retailer carrying Etaro.
- Stay SHARP — USA · ships to USA, Worldwide (free US shipping over $199)
Products
How Etaro Compares
| Brand | Etaro | SENSEI | Washi | ABOVE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | USA | USA | USA |
| Typical price | US$249–US$450 | US$179–US$350 | US$139–US$695 | US$180–US$250 |
| Steel | — | Cobalt Alloy, 440C | ATS-314, VG-10, ATS-34, V1 | Cobalt steel |
| Blade types | Convex | Convex | Convex | Convex |
| Handles | Offset, Swivel, Crane | Crane, Swivel, Offset | Offset, Swivel | Offset, Classic, Swivel |
| Specialties | Sculpting, Shaping, Finishing, Texturizing, Texturizing, No line demarcation cut, Line demarcation cut, Angle cutting | Blunt cut, Volume control, Texture control, Cut & Thinning, Blending, Point cut | Slide cut, Point cut, Scissor over comb, Blending, Texturing, Weight removal, Volume control, Texture control(10~20%), Weave cutting, Separation, Weight removal(40%) | Precision cut, Layer cut, Sliding cut, Texture cut, Wet cut, Dry cut |
| Founded | 2011 | 1980 | 1988 | — |
| Known for | — | Introduced the rotating thumb ring and crane handle; in business since 1980 | Founded 1988 by Marc Milman; built on Japanese Hitachi steel | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Etaro is a USA-based shear line from Hikari Products, Inc., launched in 2011 and finished in Gardena, California. The blades carry Hikari’s convex edge profile and use Japanese steel.
The Lightweight line marks Etaro’s entry point and the Glide slide-cutting model the top, with the 9 catalogued models spanning $249 to $450 at guide prices depending on model and blade length.
Yes. Alongside its right-handed range, Etaro makes dedicated left-handed cutting scissors built with the same convex edge.
The Etaro line spans cutting scissors, thinning and texturizing scissors, and left-handed models, with several blade lengths across the cutting line.
Etaro’s convex-edged shears are favoured for sculpting, shaping, finishing, and texturizing work, including clean angle cutting.
Catalogued Etaro models span 5.0 inch to 7.0 inch. The Lightweight line covers 5.0 to 6.0 inch, the Crane line 5.75 to 7.0 inch, and the Texturizer sits at 5.75 inch.
Ratings & reviews
Used Etaro scissors? Rate them and share your experience to help other professionals choose.