Hayashi

Clamshell, convex, hamaguri: the edge profile that became the benchmark for premium Japanese shears is one Hayashi is widely credited with pioneering. The Wakayama City company, founded in 1992 by Nobuaki Hayashi, works in proprietary HYS powder steel, up to HRC 67 on the HYS-MAX67, sells direct and runs its own sharpening and repair service, and takes part-by-part custom orders. Guide prices for the three models run US$800 to US$1,600.

Company Background

Hayashi Scissors Co., Ltd. was established in 1992 by Nobuaki Hayashi and is headquartered in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture. The company operates with a small team of nine employees and serves approximately 3,000 clients nationwide in Japan, with overseas sales in Korea, Taiwan, and Shanghai.

Hayashi Scissors is widely credited with pioneering the hamaguri blade (蛤刃, hamaguriba), a convex cross-section shaped like a clamshell. The profile supports smooth slicing with low friction. Sharpeners and manufacturers also refer to this geometry as a clamshell or convex edge.

Direct Sales Model

Hayashi describes its direct manufacturing, sales, and after-sales maintenance model as an industry first. The company sells to stylists and provides ongoing sharpening and repair service, keeping each client’s purchase and maintenance details together.

The company’s growth pattern tells the story of a business built on regional expansion. Starting from Wakayama, they expanded prefecture by prefecture through the 1990s, reaching Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Aichi, Fukuoka, and Shiga over the course of eight years. By 1999, they had surpassed 2,000 clients. The company incorporated in January 2000 and continued expanding with offices in the Kanto region, Tohoku, Shikoku, and eventually international agencies in Korea, Taiwan, and China.

Part-by-Part Custom Ordering

Hayashi offers a part-by-part custom ordering system where customers can specify individual components of their shears. This level of customization allows a stylist to select their preferred blade shape, handle configuration, and other details rather than choosing from a fixed product catalog. For professionals who have very specific preferences about how a shear feels and performs, this is a meaningful option.

Innovation and Recognition

In 2001, Hayashi began producing original scissors in joint development with Mr. Shichijo, the 1996 World Champion hairdresser. This collaboration led to the “Shark” model, which launched in 2005. The company has received multiple regional certifications, including Wakayama Prefecture Premium Product status (2008), selection for the Wakayama Small Business Vitality Fund (2012), and inclusion in the “Kansai Manufacturing Selection 2017.”

Their HYS-MAX67 model was featured in the Kansai Design Potential Map 2010, which highlights products recognized for design excellence in the Kansai region.

HYS-MAX67: The Hardest Scissor Steel

Hayashi’s proprietary HYS powder metal (超微粒子粉末鋼) uses tungsten for hardness, molybdenum for toughness, and vanadium as an additive, all manufactured via powder metallurgy for uniform particle distribution. Their standard HYS achieves HRC 63-64. The HYS-MAX67 pushes to HRC 67, described by Hayashi as “the hardness at which machining was previously said to be impossible.” Development took several years from concept to production. This represents the closest approach to the theoretical ideal of “scissors that never need sharpening.” Source: Hayashi Scissors: Materials (Japanese).

Blade Technology Focus

Hayashi’s core innovation remains their blade work. The hamaguri grind they pioneered is referenced across the Japanese scissor industry as the benchmark for premium edge profiles. Japanese industry source KAMIU lists Hayashi as an innovator in blade technology. The convex clamshell cross-section reduces friction during cutting and produces a characteristically smooth feel when slicing through hair. This is one of the fundamental differences between Japanese and European shear construction, and Hayashi played a central role in establishing it.

Company Details

• Established: 1992 (incorporated January 2000)
• Capital: 6 million yen
• Employees: 9
• Representative Director: Nobuaki Hayashi
• Domestic Sales: Nationwide (Japan)
• Overseas Sales: Korea, Taiwan, Shanghai
• Headquarters: 6-5-74 Tedaira, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, 640-8319

See Also

Best Hayashi scissors →