Ichiro vs Juntetsu: Taiyo and Mastersmith Sets Compared

Start with the work each set needs to do

Taiyo is the starting point if you want to choose your cutter length. Mastersmith is the starting point if you want a 7-inch cutter and texturizer together. Neither choice makes sense if you need only one of the included tools.

This is a comparison of the Ichiro Premium Taiyo VG10 set and Juntetsu Mastersmith Cobalt 7 set, not a test of either brand’s complete range. The selected retailer specifications were checked on 9 September 2026. There was no hands-on cutting, comfort or durability test.

See the two exact-set examples

Use the product photographs to compare the overall format, then read the configuration details below. Open each model page for its catalog information and ask for a dated quote for both selected tools. A historical reference amount is not today’s delivered offer.

Scroll to explore all 2 examples →

1. Ichiro

   

   Ichiro Premium Series Taiyo VG10 Cutting and Texturizing Scissor Set

   Request a current local quote.

   Choose the cutter length

   Compare Taiyo if you need a different cutter length while keeping a 6-inch, 15-tooth texturizer alongside it.

   Retailer specification

   Photo: Japan Scissor Shop

   View sizes & specifications →

2. Juntetsu

   

   Juntetsu Mastersmith Cobalt 7.0 Inch Cutting & Texturizing Shear Set

   Request a current local quote.

   Match two long tools

   Compare Mastersmith if a 7-inch cutter and a same-length texturizer already match your working brief.

   Retailer specification

   Photo: Japan Scissor Shop

   View sizes & specifications →

Any displayed price is a dated guide in the labeled currency and market, not a live quote. Where that context is incomplete, we omit the amount. Compare the same size and included pieces, with local tax, delivery and service costs.

Compare the same fields side by side

Comparison point	Ichiro Premium Taiyo	Juntetsu Mastersmith
Cutter lengths listed	5.5, 6, 6.5 or 7 inches	7 inches
Companion length	6 inches	7 inches
Texturizer choice	15-tooth companion	Finesse 15%, Blend 20% or Sculptor 30%
Listed material	VG-10	ATS-314 cobalt steel
Handle format	Offset	Offset
Decision this helps	Choose the main cutter length without changing the companion	Choose a texturizer option within a matched long-tool format
Exact supporting listing	Japan Scissors Australia	Japan Scissor Shop

These are seller-listed specifications, not ScissorPedia measurements. Tooth count and removal percentage describe different fields: the table does not establish a like-for-like removal-rate comparison between the two texturizers.

Decide whether both pieces earn their place

Ichiro Premium Taiyo: flexible cutter sizing

Taiyo lets the main cutter vary while the companion stays the same. That makes it worth inspecting when you know which cutter length you want but also need a separate texture tool.

The practical question is the companion. If a 15-tooth texturizer is not on your shopping list, compare the cost of the cutter alone before committing to the set. A matching finish is not a reason to duplicate a tool you already use successfully.

Juntetsu Mastersmith: a matched long-blade configuration

Mastersmith asks for a more specific brief: two long tools, plus a choice of texturizer. It is a useful comparison for an established longer-blade user; it is not a recommendation to move to 7 inches simply because the set is marketed for barbers.

The percentage labels name different ordering options. Ask which one the quote includes and how the seller describes its intended work. Do not read “15–30%” as a dial you can change after purchase.

Read material and origin claims separately

The VG-10 and ATS-314 descriptions above come from the regional listings. They do not establish that one finished pair lasts longer, needs less servicing or performs better. The material label is one comparison field, not a substitute for the complete tool.

Origin needs separate evidence. Ichiro’s company page describes final checks and assembly, and its product guidance notes regional specification differences. Juntetsu’s site supplies wider brand context. None of those facts should be expanded into a blanket made-in-Japan claim for both exact sets.

If manufacture in Japan is essential to your purchase, ask for a statement covering the precise model and configuration you will receive.

Test the format against your existing kit

Bring your current cutter and texturizer to the comparison. What is missing: reach, a different tip, another texture result, or a dependable backup? If the answer concerns only one tool, consider a single purchase.

Within a seller-permitted trial, compare handed construction, ring contact, thumb movement, balance, tip visibility and control in the task you actually need. Students should use their educator’s requirements rather than choosing a longer tool by brand status. Stop if control reduces or discomfort develops.

This article does not rate handling from photographs or infer comfort from the word “offset”.

Compare the whole offer, not just the set price

Request the following for both sets:

• Exact cutter size and companion option, with the model codes on the quote.
• A delivered price in the same currency, including separately charged costs.
• Selected-option stock and dispatch location.
• Trial and return conditions, including return shipping.
• Warranty contact, accepted servicing route and likely time without the tools.

The source listings describe regional products. A product being listed is not confirmation of today’s selected-variant stock, and the catalog guide prices do not establish which offer is cheaper in your country.

Choose the format that fits your brief

Start with Ichiro when

Your main decision is cutter length and you also have a clear use for the supplied texturizer. Check the companion separately rather than treating it as a free extra.

Start with Juntetsu when

You already want two 7-inch tools and can choose the texturizer option deliberately. Confirm that the quote identifies the option, not merely “Mastersmith set”.

Let two useful tools decide the purchase

Write one job beside each included pair. If all four jobs are clear across your two candidate sets, compare fit and ownership terms. If one companion has no real role, step back and compare single tools before buying a set.