Kouho
- Japan
- Est. 1964
-
Budget Luxury
Kouho is a Japanese scissor maker founded in 1964 in Osaka, producing professional cutting, thinning, and left-handed shears for salons.
OverviewKouho is a Japanese scissors brand founded in 1964. The company (株式会社 光邦) started as a small shop in Higashinari-ku, Osaka, selling hair cosmetics and hair growth products for the beauty industry. By 1969, Kouho had begun manufacturing and selling professional hair scissors for salons. The company incorporated in 1977...
Overview
Kouho is a Japanese scissors brand founded in 1964. The company (株式会社 光邦) started as a small shop in Higashinari-ku, Osaka, selling hair cosmetics and hair growth products for the beauty industry. By 1969, Kouho had begun manufacturing and selling professional hair scissors for salons. The company incorporated in 1977 and also started running its own salon and developing proprietary beauty instruments.
Product Range
Kouho produces cutting scissors, thinning scissors, and left-handed scissors. The brand’s listed specialties include blunt cutting, point cutting, slide cutting, blend cutting, texture control, three-step thinning, graduated cutting, and freehand cutting. The breadth of the lineup reflects a focus on serving stylists who work across multiple techniques.
Distribution
Kouho is headquartered in Chuo-ku, Osaka, with a showroom at the same location. The company opened a Tokyo showroom in Shibuya in 2001 (relocated in 2013) and an Osaka sales headquarters in Shinsaibashi in 2002. Kouho scissors are carried by several international retailers, including Precision Shears, Shear World, tricut.com, and Scissors shop Hayashi. The brand also sells through its own online store at hasami-pro.com. Pricing falls in the mid range for professional Japanese scissors.
Product Types
Specialties
Where to Buy
Official Brand Websites
Authorized Retailers
Products
How Kouho Compares
| Brand | Kouho | Kyoto | Hakucho | TSUBAME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Price Tier | Mid-Range | Mid-Range | Mid-Range | Mid-Range |
| Steel | — | — | — | — |
| Handles | — | — | — | — |
| Specialties | Blunt cut, Point cut, Slide cut, Blend cut, Texture control, Cut & Thinning(3-step), Graduated cut, Freehand cut | — | Blunt cut, Slide cut, Point cut, Texture control, Volume control, Cut & Thinning, Base cut, Finishing, Rough cut, Thinning | Weaving, Slide cut, Slice cut |
| Founded | 1964 | — | 1946 | 2001 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kouho scissors are manufactured in Japan by 株式会社 光邦, established in 1964.
Kouho 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.
Kouho specializes in Blunt cut, Point cut, Slide cut, Blend cut, Texture control, and 3 more.
