Kyoto Hasami Shokunin
京都はさみ職人
Who it suits
Kyoto Hasami Shokunin is a one-person Japanese shear brand applying traditional swordsmithing techniques to handcrafted professional scissors.
Price position
$0 · tier 3 of 5
Profile completeness
8/9Profile coverage
- Models
- 4 catalogued
- Product types
- 2 documented
- Materials
- 2 documented
Toshikazu Ohta works alone under the Kyoto Hasami Shokunin (京都はさみ職人) name, applying Japanese swordsmithing technique to hairdressing shears; he opened a sharpening specialty shop in Kyoto in 2002, took the service nationwide and international by 2004, and began building shears of his own in 2008. Cutting and thinning models, in cobalt and super-alloy steels, are designed and finished by his hand.
Swordsmithing Heritage
The brand draws directly from traditional Japanese swordsmithing (刀鍛冶, tōkaji) techniques. Ohta applies principles from katana craftsmanship to hairdressing shears, including the approach to understanding each piece of steel’s individual characteristics before working it. This lineage from blade traditions in the Kyoto region gives the brand a distinctive identity among Japanese shear makers.
Ohta describes his process as “breathing life into steel,” treating each pair of shears as having its own personality based on how the metal responds during forging and finishing.
Sharpening Roots
Before manufacturing, Ohta spent years as a dedicated sharpening specialist. That foundation informs how he designs his shears. He opened his first shop in Kyoto in 2002, focused entirely on hairdressing shear sharpening. Through that work, he developed an understanding of what makes shears perform well over time and what causes them to fail.
By 2004 he had expanded to serve stylists across Japan and internationally, supporting Japanese hairdressers working in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Custom Scissor Oils
Kyoto Hasami Shokunin offers custom scissor oils available in multiple colors. Ohta’s range of colored oils reflects the brand’s attention to the full maintenance lifecycle of a pair of shears.
Product Philosophy
Ohta describes the ideal cutting experience as “FLOW,” a state where the shears become an unnoticeable extension of the stylist’s hand. His product line includes cutting shears and thinning shears, all designed and finished by hand by Ohta himself.
Timeline
- 2002: Opened sharpening specialty shop in Kyoto
- 2004: Launched website, expanded to serve stylists nationwide and internationally
- 2008: Began developing shears under his own brand
- 2016: Started scissors workshops in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Hong Kong
- 2020: Expanded online communication during the pandemic
See Also
Kyoto Hasami Shokunin at a glance
- Budget
- Mid-range $200–400
- Makes
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors
- Based in
- Japan
- Catalogue
- 4 models listed
- Established
- 2002
Product Types
Specialties
Where to Buy
Official Brand Websites
Products
How Kyoto Hasami Shokunin compares
Same listed origin, adjacent price tier. Rows tinted brass differ; "—" means the field is not documented yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
5 answers you can open one at a timeWho makes Kyoto Hasami Shokunin scissors?
They are made in Japan by Toshikazu Ohta, who works as the brand’s sole craftsman. He started out as a hairdressing-shear sharpening specialist in 2002 and began building his own shears a few years later, with each pair designed and finished by hand.
What is Kyoto Hasami Shokunin known for?
The brand applies traditional Japanese swordsmithing techniques to hairdressing shears, an approach Ohta describes as breathing life into steel. Its line covers cutting and thinning shears for blunt cutting, thinning, volume control, texturising, layering, and finishing work.
How much do Kyoto Hasami Shokunin scissors cost?
Kyoto Hasami Shokunin sits in the mid-range for hand-finished Japanese shears. The brand’s site at 1hasami.com lists current models and prices.
What steel does Kyoto Hasami Shokunin use?
The shears are forged from cobalt-based and super-alloy steels. You can read more about the metallurgy on our Cobalt Alloy reference page.
Where can I buy Kyoto Hasami Shokunin scissors?
The brand sells direct through its official site at 1hasami.com, which lists the current cutting and thinning models alongside its sharpening service.
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