Kikui
菊井シザース
- Japan
- Est. 1953
-
Budget Luxury
Kikui is a Japanese scissors manufacturer founded in 1953 in Wakayama, known for durable, long-lasting professional styling shears.
About KikuiKikui is a Japanese scissors manufacturer founded in 1953. The company operates as Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd. and is headquartered in Wakayama, Japan. Kikui has been producing professional styling scissors for over 70 years.Product RangeKikui’s catalog includes cutting scissors and thinning scissors. Their specialties focus on slide cutting and...
About Kikui
Kikui is a Japanese scissors manufacturer founded in 1953. The company operates as Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd. and is headquartered in Wakayama, Japan. Kikui has been producing professional styling scissors for over 70 years.
Product Range
Kikui’s catalog includes cutting scissors and thinning scissors. Their specialties focus on slide cutting and thinning at two removal rates: 20 to 25% and 30 to 35%.
According to the company, their guiding philosophy is that styling scissors are tools first, and should be long lasting and easy to use. Kikui states that they pursue scissors with strong cutting performance alongside comfort and durability.
Availability
Kikui scissors are widely distributed across North America and Japan. Retailers carrying the brand include Shear Integrity, Scissor Dude, Begley Schmit, SalonCentric, LA Shear, Takano (Canada), and Scissors Shop Hayashi in Japan. The brand also sells through their own website.
That level of distribution suggests a well established presence in the professional shear market, particularly in the United States.
Heritage
Founded in 1953, Kikui is one of the longer running Japanese scissors manufacturers. The company describes their work as the pursuit of refined design and lasting quality over the course of more than six decades of continuous production.
Sources
- Kikui brand profile and manufacturer statements (scissors.co.jp)
Considerations & Trade-offs
Steel & Edge Performance
Kikui developed the world's first full-body cobalt-base alloy scissors in 1973. Their cobalt-base alloy contains over 70% cobalt — fundamentally different from 'cobalt-added stainless' (1-5% cobalt). Cobalt-base alloy is non-magnetic (metal filings don't stick to blades), essentially rust-proof, and provides extreme wear resistance. The trade-off: cobalt-base alloy typically achieves lower HRC (~47) than stainless steels but compensates with superior wear characteristics. Kikui does all processing in-house because cobalt-base alloy requires specialist machining knowledge.
Value Assessment
Kikui scissors are ultra-premium ($600+), reflecting the genuine material cost of cobalt-base alloy (70%+ cobalt vs. 1.5% in standard 'cobalt stainless') and the specialist in-house manufacturing required. Won the 2015 Good Design Award — judges noted 'all details have functional meaning' and that the basic design has remained unchanged since 1973, reflecting the quality of the original engineering. This is not a brand you compare on price — it's a different material class entirely.
Service & Support
Cobalt-base alloy requires specialist sharpening with appropriate grinding wheels. Standard sharpeners unfamiliar with true cobalt-base alloy (not cobalt-added stainless) should not attempt servicing. Kikui's in-house expertise extends to maintenance — they understand the material because they developed it.
Best For
- Established professionals who understand the cobalt-base vs. cobalt-added distinction and want true cobalt performance
- Stylists who cut 30+ clients/day and need maximum edge longevity
- Those who value non-magnetic blades — metal filings from thinning don't cling
Consider Alternatives If
- Budget-conscious buyers — cobalt-base alloy scissors start at $600+
- Those without access to cobalt-qualified sharpeners
- Stylists who equate higher HRC with better performance — cobalt-base alloy works differently than stainless
Product Types
Specialties
Where to Buy
Official Brand Websites
Authorized Retailers
Products
Articles About Kikui
How Kikui Compares
| Brand | Kikui | Green Mouse | YK Japan Shears | Alu-Coba |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Price Tier | Mid-Range | Mid-Range | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Steel | — | — | — | — |
| Handles | — | — | — | — |
| Specialties | Slide cut, Thinning(20-25%), Thinning(30-35%) | Blunt cut, Slide cut, Point cut, Volume control(10~65%), Texture control, Cut & Thinning, Sword cut, Convex cut, Delicate cut, V-wave thinning | — | Base cut, Step cut, Volume control, Texture control |
| Founded | 1953 | 2002 | — | 1946 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kikui scissors are manufactured in Japan by Kikui Scissors Co., Ltd., established in 1953 in Wakayama Japan.
Kikui 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.
Kikui specializes in Slide cut, Thinning(20-25%), Thinning(30-35%).
