TADAKUNI
- Japan
- Est. 1953
-
Budget Luxury
TADAKUNI is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1953, now in its third generation, crafting shears with 0.05mm precision grinding.
A client’s machines, handed over as payment, moved TADAKUNI founder Hajime Isomura from carpentry tools into scissor making; the Tokoname City, Aichi workshop he founded in 1953 now runs under the Isomura family’s third generation. The company grinds blade stock to 0.05mm accuracy, hand-sets each blade gap at 0.1mm or...
A client’s machines, handed over as payment, moved TADAKUNI founder Hajime Isomura from carpentry tools into scissor making; the Tokoname City, Aichi workshop he founded in 1953 now runs under the Isomura family’s third generation. The company grinds blade stock to 0.05mm accuracy, hand-sets each blade gap at 0.1mm or less, and sells direct under its TIII mark, in steels from SUS440 and VG10 to powdered Super Gold.
Overview
TADAKUNI is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1953 and based in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. The company is now led by third generation owner Yukio Isomura. The founder, Hajime Isomura, originally made carpentry tools like chisels and planes. He entered the scissors business after accepting subcontract work and receiving scissor manufacturing equipment as payment when the client went bankrupt.
For decades the workshop built its reputation as a trusted contract manufacturer, producing scissors for a range of brand partners and refining the in-house techniques that underpin the company’s current output. Masahiro Isomura, the second generation, formally incorporated the business in 1981 and continued developing that manufacturing expertise. The current third-generation owner launched TADAKUNI’s own direct-to-consumer retail brand in 2022, selling online under the “TIII” mark, a reference to the third generation’s personal responsibility for every pair of scissors shipped.
Product Range
TADAKUNI produces cutting scissors and thinning scissors. The brand covers blunt cut, slide cut, chop cut, curve cut, volume control (10 to 55%), and texture control techniques. The company handles all processes in house, from CAD design and wire-cut electrical discharge machining through precision grinding with diamond whetstones to final hand adjustment.
The finishing step, called “gap adjustment,” sets the blade gap to no more than 0.1mm and is done entirely by hand. Blade material is ground to an accuracy of 0.05mm. TADAKUNI offers multiple handle sizes and runs a free trial scissors program so stylists can test before buying.
Distribution
TADAKUNI sells through its own online shop. The company is small, with about 6 employees. The brand emphasizes a maintenance centered sales model, and according to TADAKUNI, the goal is to build scissors that improve with long term use.
See Also
TADAKUNI at a glance
- Budget
- Mid-range $200–400
- Makes
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors
- Based in
- Japan
- Catalogue
- 5 models listed
- Established
- 1953
Product Types
Specialties
Materials & Construction
The steel, edges, and handle styles TADAKUNI works in:
Where to Buy
Official Brand Websites
Products
How TADAKUNI Compares
| Brand | TADAKUNI | DOWA | Ichiro | Kamisori |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Japan | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Typical price | Mid-range | US$250–US$350 | US$116–US$443 | US$97–US$1,624 |
| Steel | SUS440, VG10 (V-Gold 10), ATS-314, ACUTO440, Super Gold (powdered steel) | ATS-314, Damascus | 440C, VG-10, ATS-314 | ATS-314, VG-10, VG-1, 440C, Takefu Cobalt, Damascus |
| Blade types | — | Convex, Sword | Convex Edge, Semi-Convex Edge | Convex Edge |
| Handles | — | Offset | Offset, Crane | Offset, Crane, Swivel, Double Swivel |
| Specialties | Blunt cut, Slide cut, Chop cut, Volume control(10~55%), Texture control, Cut & Thinning(1055%), Curve cut | Blunt cut, Volume control, Texture control, Cut & Thinning | Blunt cut, Slide cut, Point cut, Volume control, Texture control, Cut & Thinning | Blunt cut, Slide cut, Point cut, Precision cut, Texturizing, Scissor-over-comb, Layering, Slicing |
| Founded | 1953 | 1980 | 2004 | 2005 |
| Known for | — | — | — | Signature KAMISORI ATS-314 Japanese cobalt steel blades |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. TADAKUNI dates back to 1953 and is now run by the third generation of the Isomura family, with its workshop in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. Every pair is made in Japan.
Founder Hajime Isomura started out making carpentry tools such as chisels and planes, then moved into scissors. The family incorporated the business in 1981, and the third generation launched TADAKUNI’s own direct retail brand, marked TIII.
TADAKUNI makes cutting scissors and thinning scissors, with models suited to blunt cut, slide cut, chop cut, and curve cut, plus thinning shears for volume and texture control.
Yes. TADAKUNI’s range includes dedicated left-handed cutting models, so left-handed stylists are not limited to right-handed designs.
TADAKUNI works with several grades across its range, including VG10 (V-Gold 10), a cobalt stainless alloy used widely in professional shears.
TADAKUNI’s pricing is mid-range for Japanese professional shears. Model-by-model pricing is not catalogued here; current prices are listed on the brand’s own online shop at tadakuni.com.
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