Utsumi
内海
Who it suits
Utsumi is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1987, pioneering CNC shear production and known for innovative double-bladed thinning shears.
Price position
$900–1200 · tier 5 of 5
Profile completeness
9/9Profile coverage
- Models
- 5 catalogued
- Product types
- 2 documented
- Materials
- 1 documented
- Sources
- 1 cited
By the company’s account, Utsumi founder Chimaki Utsumi was the first person in the world to produce professional shears using CNC machining; he started the Osaka scissor maker in 1987. Five cutters are listed at $900 to $1,200 guide prices, 5.5 to 7.0 inches long. Before that, his work behind the Tenyo barber shears earned him the industry nickname Mr. Tenyo, and the company later bought the Tenyo factory.
About Utsumi
Utsumi is a Japanese scissor manufacturer founded in 1987 by Chimaki Utsumi. The company is based in Japan with a U.S. operation, Utsumi America, located in Irvine, California. Before starting his own company, Chimaki Utsumi was widely known as the person behind the Tenyo barber shears, earning him the nickname “Mr. Tenyo” in the industry.
Heritage
Utsumi has a significant history of technical firsts. According to the company, Chimaki Utsumi was the first person in the world to produce professional shears using Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) technology. This led to the creation of brands like U&U and NOVA under the Utsumi umbrella.
In 1994, Utsumi developed a double bladed thinning shear in collaboration with leading hair stylists. This design became widely popular and remains in production. The company also produced a video series called “Let’s use thinning shears” that helped popularize thinning shears across Japan.
Utsumi later acquired the Tenyo factory (founded in 1946), which allowed the company to combine modern CNC methods with traditional handmade techniques. This brought brands like Jyo-Utopia and Nova into the Utsumi product family.
U.S. Operations
In 1998, Utsumi purchased B.W. Boyd Shears Inc., a California company that had been distributing Japanese shears since 1976. The resulting company, Utsumi America, operates under the B.W. Boyd Shears trade name and is led by CEO Kazumi “Christy” Hagino.
Utsumi America participates in conventions and trade shows across the country, runs seminars on their product line and proper shear maintenance, and offers sharpening services performed by technicians trained at the Utsumi factory in Japan.
Product Range
Utsumi produces cutting scissors and thinning scissors. Their specialties include blunt cut, base cut, slide cut (at both 10 to 40% and 80 to 90% ranges), all round thinning (20 to 25%), and finishing thinning (10 to 19%). The company has exhibited at Hair World trade shows in Japan, England, and the United States since 1990.
Market Positioning
Utsumi models carry guide prices from $900 to $1,200, at the upper end of the professional market. For American stylists, the Irvine based Utsumi America office provides direct access to the brand, along with sharpening and education. The brand is also carried by Shear Integrity and Scissors Shop Hayashi.
Sources
- Utsumi America official website: utsumiamerica.com
- Utsumi Japan official website: uu-utsumi.co.jp
See Also
Where to Buy
Utsumi at a glance
- Budget
- Luxury $800+
- Makes
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors
- Based in
- Japan
- Catalogue
- 5 models listed
- Established
- 1987
Product Types
Specialties
Materials & Construction
The steel, edges, and handle styles Utsumi works in:
Where to Buy
Official Brand Websites
Authorized Retailers
Retailers stocking Utsumi
ScissorPedia catalogues 2 retailers carrying Utsumi.
- Scissors shop Hayashi Online store — Japan
- SHEAR INTEGRITY Online store — USA · ships to USA
The range, at a glance
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Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
Products
How Utsumi compares
Same listed origin, adjacent price tier. Rows tinted brass differ; "—" means the field is not documented yet.
Sources
- 🇯🇵 内海 (UTSUMI) — Brand Page (manufacturer official)
Frequently Asked Questions
7 answers you can open one at a timeIs Utsumi a Japanese scissor brand?
Yes. Chimaki Utsumi founded the firm in 1987, and it works from Settsu City, Osaka. Its shears are hand made in Japan.
What is Utsumi best known for?
Thinning and texturizing innovation. Utsumi developed a double-bladed thinning shear in 1994 and is credited as the first to produce professional shears using CNC machining.
What types of scissors does Utsumi make?
Utsumi makes both cutting and thinning scissors, with specialties spanning blunt cut, base cut, slide cut, and all-round and finishing thinning.
What lengths do Utsumi shears come in?
The range runs 5.5 to 7.0 inches. The UMIX MX Damascus spans 5.5 to 7.0 inch, the USSX comes in 6.5 and 7.0 inch, the ER in 6.2 and 7.0 inch, and the NY DRYCUT and Slide Control are 6.0 inch.
Who is Utsumi for?
Stylists who do a lot of thinning and texturizing work, where Utsumi’s specialised blade designs are the main draw, and anyone who values functional engineering over steel-grade prestige.
How much do Utsumi scissors cost?
Guide prices begin at $900 with the U&U USSX, step to $940 for the ER and $950 for the NY DRYCUT and Slide Control, and finish at $1,200 with the UMIX MX Damascus. That accounts for all 5 models.
Where can I buy Utsumi scissors in the US?
Utsumi runs a US operation, Utsumi America, based in Irvine, California, which also handles sharpening and education for the line.
Ratings & reviews
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