Kasho vs Mizutani vs Joewell: Premium Japanese Scissor Houses
How do Kasho, Mizutani, and Joewell scissors compare?
Kasho (founded 1908, part of KAI Corporation), Mizutani (1921), and Joewell (1917) are three long-established Japanese scissor houses that all make premium cutting, thinning, and left-handed shears — differing mainly in their signature steels: Kasho's sintered and dual-alloy blades, Mizutani's nano-powder metal and Damascus, and Joewell's powder-metal and cobalt-base alloys.
All three are heritage Japanese makers with full professional catalogues, so the differences are in materials and focus rather than tier. Kasho leans on sintered and dual-alloy steels and the backing of KAI Corporation; Mizutani is known for nano-powder metal and Damascus construction; Joewell (under Tokosha) works in powder-metal and cobalt-base alloys and offers its URUSHI line. The table below is the documented facts side by side — see each profile for the full history and current catalogue.
Verified Jun 2026
| Attribute | KashoJapan | MizutaniJapan | JoewellJapan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan | Japan | Japan |
| Founded | 1908 | 1921 | 1917 |
| Parent company | KAI CORPORATION | Mizutani Scissors Mfg. Co., Ltd. | TOKOSHA CO., LTD. |
| Steels used | VG-10W, VG-10, ATS-314, SG2 | Nano Powder Metal, Stellite, Damascus, Extramarise I, Extramarise II, Cobalt Alloy | Cobalt Base Alloy CBA-1, Powder Metal Alloy, Supreme Stainless Alloy |
| Specialties | Precision cut, Slide cut, Blunt cut, Point cut, Texturizing, Thinning, Blending, Layering | Precision cut, Blunt cut, Back cutting, Scissor over comb, Texture control(10-15%), Texture control(20-30%), Inner texture, Outer texture, Blending, Thinning(15-25%), Texturizing(25-50%) | Blunt cut, Slide cut, Volume control, Texture control, Cut and thinning |
| Product types | Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors, Razors, Combs | Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors | Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors, URUSHI Scissors |
| Brand profile | Brand profile | Brand profile |
Reading the comparison
These are makers with a century of history each, so any of them is a serious tool — the question is fit, not rank. Match the signature steel to how you cut (powder metals for the longest edge life, sintered and cobalt blends for balance), then choose on handle range, length, and the models each maker actually offers. The brand profiles cover the full catalogue and the retailers that carry them.