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Japanese steel ingots and professional scissors showing different steel types

Hitachi Metals Legacy: Understanding the Yasuki Steel Family

· 1 min read · by

If you have spent any time researching Japanese scissors, you have encountered references to steel types with color-coded names — Silver, White, Blue. These all trace back to a single source: the Yasuki Works in Shimane Prefecture, operated by Hitachi Metals. (Update: Hitachi Metals was renamed Proterial in 2023.)

Understanding this steel family is essential for evaluating scissors beyond marketing claims.

The “Paper Steel” Naming System

The Yasuki steels are colloquially known as “paper steels” (紙鋼 / kamihagane) because of a simple warehouse practice: different grades were wrapped in different colored paper for identification at the mill. The system stuck, and today the color names are used industry-wide.

Silver Steel (銀紙 / Ginkami / GIN)

Silver Steel is the grade most relevant to professional scissors. Specifically, Silver Steel #3 (GIN3) is widely used in premium scissor production, with the following composition:

  • Carbon: 0.95-1.10%
  • Chromium: 13-14.5%
  • Hardness: HRC 59 or higher (maker-published hardening hardness)

The high chromium content makes GIN3 a stainless steel — critical for scissors that face daily exposure to water, chemicals, and hair products. Its carbon content is high enough to take and hold a keen edge, while the chromium provides the corrosion resistance that professional use demands.

White Paper Steel (白紙 / Shirogami)

White Steel is a high-purity carbon steel prized for its ability to achieve an extremely sharp edge. However, it contains no chromium, which means it is not stainless and will rust without diligent maintenance. In the scissors world, White Steel appears primarily in traditional Japanese razors (kamisori / 剃刀) and some specialty cutting tools rather than in everyday professional scissors.

Blue Paper Steel (青紙 / Aogami)

Blue Steel adds tungsten and chromium to the White Steel base, improving wear resistance and toughness. Like White Steel, it is a carbon steel — not stainless — and is more commonly found in kitchen knives and woodworking tools than in hair scissors. Some niche scissor makers have experimented with Blue Steel, but the maintenance requirements make it impractical for most salon environments.

Why This Matters

When a product listing uses “Hitachi steel,” “Yasuki steel,” or a broad phrase such as “Japanese steel,” ask for the exact grade and the responsible source for that model. Knowing the Yasuki family helps distinguish a specific material statement from general marketing language. Material identity still does not establish the finished blade geometry, heat treatment, fit, or edge life.