Ichiro vs Juntetsu: Japanese Scissors Compared
A head-to-head comparison of Ichiro and Juntetsu professional scissors: exact-model materials, price, handle options, production wording, and intended users.
You are staring at two pairs of scissors in separate browser tabs. One says Ichiro. The other says Juntetsu. Both are Japanese brands, but material, geometry, construction, and production wording still belong to the exact model. Their price ranges overlap, and generic reviews rarely resolve the differences that matter in your hand.
Here is the comparison you actually need. No sponsorships, no affiliate games. Just two good brands broken down by what matters: steel, handles, price, and who each one is really built for.
Meet the two brands before the spec sheets:
Verified Japanese maker
Ichiro
- Base Japan
- Origin Japan
- 440C
- VG-10
- ATS-314
Approved identity and product media are catalogue aids — not a rank, origin claim, or recommendation.
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Verified Japanese maker
Juntetsu
- Base Japan
- Origin Japan
- VG-10
- Cobalt Alloy
- 440C
Approved identity and product media are catalogue aids — not a rank, origin claim, or recommendation.
The two contenders, side by side
Product photos from the ScissorPedia catalogue; see each product page for provenance.
The Quick Answer
If you want the short version before the deep dive: Ichiro wins on value and sets. Juntetsu wins on ergonomics and premium cobalt options. Both are excellent. Neither is a bad choice. The right one depends on your budget, your hands, and whether you buy singles or sets.
Now here is the long version.
Brand Backgrounds
Ichiro: The Value King
Ichiro is a Japanese brand that combines handmade production and finishing with modern laser-engineered blade designs. Its $179 to $599 USD range is primarily built for professionals, with selected student and apprentice models. The catalogue includes VG-10, cobalt alloy, and 440C options distributed across international markets.
What sets Ichiro apart is their approach to sets. Where most brands sell cutting and thinning scissors separately (and charge full price for each), Ichiro offers pre-matched sets that give you a cutting shear, a thinning shear, and sometimes a texturizer in a single purchase at a genuine discount. For someone building their first professional kit or replacing a worn set, that matters.
Their range covers $179 to $599 USD, from selected training and early-career models through a majority-professional catalogue of cutting, thinning, texturising, and matched-set options.
Juntetsu: The Ergonomic Specialist
Juntetsu is a Japanese professional scissor brand whose name, written 純鉄, translates to “Purest Steel.” It supplies distributors around the world, and selected models are handmade in Japan by highly experienced heritage craftspeople.
Where Ichiro leans into value and distribution, Juntetsu leans into range and ergonomics. They offer everything from entry VG-10 models to premium cobalt alloy scissors, and critically, they offer more handle configurations than almost any competing brand at this price point. That includes a swivel handle option, which makes them one of the more accessible entry points into swivel scissors without jumping to ultra-premium prices.
Its current price range stretches from $249 to $799 USD, covering core professional through premium models.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Here is everything in one table. Scan this first, then read the details below for context.
| Factor | Ichiro | Juntetsu |
|---|---|---|
| Steel options | VG-10, Cobalt Alloy | VG-10, Cobalt Alloy |
| Price range | $179 to $599 USD | $249 to $799 USD |
| Handle types | Offset, Crane | Offset, Crane, Swivel |
| Coatings | Black Ti, Rose Gold, Matte Black, Ash Gold | Titanium, Black Ti, Rose Gold |
| Product types | Cutting, Thinning, Texturizing, Left-Handed, Sets | Cutting, Thinning, Texturizing, Left-Handed, Sets |
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Best for | Value, sets, wide distribution | Ergonomics, lightweight, premium cobalt |
| Distributed | US, UK, AU, CA, NZ | US, UK, AU, CA, NZ |
The table tells the surface story. Let us get into what actually matters below the spec sheet.
Steel: What You Are Actually Paying For
Both brands use VG-10 and cobalt alloy on parts of their ranges. Ichiro also combines handmade methods with laser-engineered blade designs, while selected Juntetsu models are handmade in Japan by heritage craftspeople. What matters is how each exact model implements its materials and geometry.
VG-10 Models
VG-10 (which stands for V Gold No. 10) is a high-carbon stainless steel commonly hardened to approximately 60 to 62 HRC in professional scissors. Both Ichiro and Juntetsu catalogue VG-10 models, though buyers should check the exact model’s material, geometry, production, and care requirements.
Where they differ slightly is weight. Juntetsu’s VG-10 models tend to run lighter, sometimes noticeably so. If you are doing 30+ clients per week and hand fatigue is a concern, that weight difference adds up by Friday afternoon.
Cobalt Alloy Models
Cobalt-bearing alloys can support wear resistance and fine edge geometry, depending on the full composition and heat treatment. Both brands offer cobalt options, but Juntetsu extends further into this territory through the upper part of its $249 to $799 USD range.
Ichiro’s upper range reaches $599 USD and includes cobalt options aimed at working professionals.
The verdict on steel: Compare the exact VG-10 or cobalt model rather than treating either brand as one specification. Juntetsu extends further at the top of the price range, while Ichiro offers more matched sets and multiple blade-design approaches.
Photo by Th Gustavo Santana via Pexels
Handles and Ergonomics
This is where the brands diverge most clearly.
Ichiro’s Handle Options
Ichiro offers offset and crane handles across their range. Offset handles angle the thumb ring lower than the finger ring, reducing the elevation of your elbow and shoulder during cutting. Crane handles take this further with a more dramatic angle. Both are solid, well-constructed, and comfortable for most hand sizes.
Juntetsu’s Handle Options
Juntetsu matches Ichiro with offset and crane options, then adds swivel handles to the mix. A swivel handle allows the thumb ring to rotate freely, which means your thumb moves naturally rather than being locked into a fixed position. This dramatically reduces strain on the thumb joint and can be a game-changer for stylists dealing with repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel symptoms.
If you have never tried a swivel handle, Juntetsu is one of the most affordable ways to test whether it works for your cutting style. Full swivel scissors from brands like Hikari or Mizutani start at $600 or more. Juntetsu gets you into the category for significantly less.
The verdict on handles: Juntetsu wins this category outright. The swivel option alone gives them an advantage that matters for long-term hand health.
Price Tier Comparison: Who Wins Where
Let us break this down by what you are actually willing to spend.
Under $300
Ichiro has more room below $300. Its full range starts at $179 USD and includes selected student and apprentice models as well as a professional majority. Compare the exact model’s listed steel, edge, fit, and set contents; Juntetsu’s professional range begins at $249 USD.
If $300 is the ceiling, Mina covers $95 to $299 USD with affordable options for professionals, students, and apprentices. For people in training, see our dedicated guide to student and apprentice scissors.
$300 to $500
Winner: Tie. This is the battleground where both brands shine equally. You can get cobalt alloy from either brand, multiple handle options, and professional performance that genuinely rivals scissors costing twice as much. Your decision here should come down to whether you want sets (Ichiro) or swivel handles (Juntetsu).
$600 to $799
Juntetsu is the option from these two brands above $599. Ichiro’s current range ends at $599 USD, while Juntetsu continues to $799 with premium and selected handmade models.
For context on whether that price jump is worth it, our analysis of 5-year cost of ownership found that the daily cost difference between a $300 and a $600 pair is roughly 25 cents.
Sets: Ichiro’s Secret Weapon
This deserves its own section because it is one of Ichiro’s strongest competitive advantages.
Buying scissors as a set rather than individually almost always saves money, but only if the set is genuinely well-matched. A cutting shear and a thinning shear made from the same steel, balanced to complement each other, and packaged at a real discount is different from two unrelated scissors thrown into a case with a “set” label.
Ichiro’s sets are the real thing. They match cutting and thinning scissors by steel type, weight class, and handle style. For a stylist building their first complete kit or replacing a worn set, this approach saves money and ensures consistency across your tools.
Juntetsu offers sets as well, but this is Ichiro’s bread and butter. If you know you need both a cutting shear and a thinner, price out the Ichiro set before buying anything else.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy Ichiro If:
- You are building your first professional kit and want maximum value
- You want pre-matched sets rather than individual scissors
- Your budget is within Ichiro’s $179 to $599 USD range
- You need reliable availability through local authorised retailers
- You want VG-10 or cobalt performance without premium pricing
Buy Juntetsu If:
- Hand fatigue or repetitive strain is a concern and you want the lightest possible tool
- You want to try swivel handles without the premium brand price tag
- Your budget extends to $799 and you want premium or selected handmade options
- You want the widest range of handle options from a single brand
- You are upgrading from budget scissors and can verify the exact model’s service route, warranty, and fit
Consider Something Else If:
- Budget from $95 to $299: Look at Mina for affordable options serving professionals, students, and apprentices
- Budget over $799: You are entering the upper ranges of brands such as Kasho and Hikari
- You want German precision: Jaguar from Solingen offers a different cutting philosophy that some stylists prefer, particularly for blunt work and scissor-over-comb
The Bottom Line
Ichiro and Juntetsu are Japanese scissor brands distributed through international specialist retailers. Ichiro combines handmade methods with laser-engineered blade designs; Juntetsu includes selected models handmade in Japan by heritage craftspeople.
The choice between them comes down to three questions. Do you value sets and maximum value per dollar? Ichiro. Do you value lightweight construction, swivel handles, and a broader premium range? Juntetsu. Can you afford both? That works too.
Both brands appear through specialist retailers in multiple markets; Juntetsu is explicitly distributed worldwide. See our country guides for current local pricing in Australia, USA, UK, or Canada.
Either way, you are getting genuine Japanese steel with a convex edge that holds up to professional salon use. That is more than most scissors in this price range can honestly claim.
Featured Models: Juntetsu vs Ichiro
Prices are approximate guides. Visit retailer for current pricing and availability.
For a broader view of where these two brands sit among all Japanese manufacturers, see our complete ranking of the best Japanese scissors brands.
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