Keiun
慶雲 / 山村刃物製作所
- Japan
- Est. 1948
-
Budget Luxury
Keiun is a Japanese Damascus steel scissor brand by Yamamura Manufacturing, a Sanjo City blacksmith since 1948 in Niigata Prefecture.
About KeiunKeiun is a Japanese professional scissor brand manufactured by Yamamura Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Yamamura Seisakusho), a blacksmithing company founded in 1948 in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture. Sanjo has a long history as one of Japan’s premier metalworking towns, and Keiun draws on that heritage.The brand is known for its...
About Keiun
Keiun is a Japanese professional scissor brand manufactured by Yamamura Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Yamamura Seisakusho), a blacksmithing company founded in 1948 in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture. Sanjo has a long history as one of Japan’s premier metalworking towns, and Keiun draws on that heritage.
The brand is known for its Damascus steel patterned scissors. Damascus steel involves layering multiple types of steel together, which creates the distinctive wavy surface pattern and can improve blade performance. Keiun states that these scissors are built by artisans in house at their Niigata facility.
Product Range
Keiun produces cutting scissors, thinning scissors, and left-handed scissors. Their thinning shears cover several removal rates: 15 to 20%, 25 to 30%, and 50 to 60%. They also offer models designed for slide cutting.
The brand is carried by a few U.S. and international retailers, including Shear Integrity and Scissor Dude, which makes them accessible to American stylists looking for authentic Japanese Damascus shears.
Heritage
With roots going back to 1948, Yamamura Manufacturing has over seven decades of metalworking experience behind the Keiun line. Sanjo City’s blacksmithing tradition stretches back roughly 300 years, and several other scissor and knife makers operate in the same region. This concentration of skilled metalworkers is a defining feature of the area.
Market Positioning
Keiun sits in the mid range price tier. The Damascus finish sets them apart visually from most competitors at a similar price point. For stylists who want Japanese craftsmanship with the look and potential performance benefits of Damascus layered steel, Keiun is worth researching.
Yamamura Manufacturing: The Steel Behind ATS-314
Keiun scissors are produced by Yamamura Manufacturing (山村刃物製作所), located in Niigata’s Tsubame-Sanjo region. Yamamura’s significance to the Japanese scissors industry extends far beyond their own brand:
- Introduced 440C stainless steel to hair scissors in Japan
- Developed the ATS-314 specification — manufactured to Yamamura’s formula by Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals). Yamamoto Scissors documents ATS-314 as “VG-10W + (SECRET)”
- Supplies forged blanks with ura-suki (裏スキ) already processed to other scissor manufacturers
- Produces Damascus/laminated steel for the scissor industry
Buying Keiun scissors means buying from the company that develops the steel other brands use. Source: Yamamura Manufacturing (Japanese).
Product Types
Specialties
Where to Buy
Authorized Retailers
Retailers stocking Keiun
ScissorPedia catalogues 2 retailers carrying Keiun.
- SCISSOR Dude — USA · ships to USA
- SHEAR INTEGRITY — USA · ships to USA
Products
How Keiun Compares
| Brand | Keiun | Washou | Utsumi | Precious |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Price Tier | Mid-Range | Mid-Range | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Steel | — | — | — | — |
| Handles | — | — | — | — |
| Specialties | Slide cut, Thinning(15-20%), Thinning(25-30%), Thinning(50-60%) | Slide cut, Blunt cut, Base cut, Dry cut, Wet cut, Thinning (18-25%), All-round thinning (20-25%), Finish thinning (10-19%), Volume control, Texture control | Blunt cut, Base cut, Slide cut (10-40%), Slide cut (80-90%), All-round thinning (20-25%), Finishing thinning (10-19%) | Thinning, Volume control(15%), Volume control(20%), Volume control(15-20%), Volume control(20-26%), Volume control(24-30%), Blunt cut, Chop cut, Wet cut, Dry cut |
| Founded | 1948 | — | 1987 | 2009 |
Verified Sources
- Primary 🇯🇵 慶雲 (KEIUN Scissors) (manufacturer official)
Frequently Asked Questions
Keiun scissors are manufactured in Japan by Yamamura Manufacturing Co., Ltd., established in 1948 in Kanekoshinden-hei.
Keiun scissors are in the mid-range price tier ($150–$350). At this price point, they compete with Alu-Coba, Axis, BMC. Value depends on your cutting volume, technique preferences, and maintenance habits.
Keiun specializes in Slide cut, Thinning(15-20%), Thinning(25-30%), Thinning(50-60%).
