Ono City: Japan's Other Scissor Capital Turns 250 Years of Heritage

When people discuss Japanese scissors manufacturing, the conversation almost always centres on Seki City in Gifu Prefecture. But 200 kilometres to the west, Ono City (小野市) in Hyogo Prefecture holds a claim that deserves equal recognition. Known locally as “the city of scissors” (はさみの町 / hasami no machi), Ono has been producing cutting tools for over 250 years — a heritage rooted not in sword-making, as Seki’s is, but in agricultural tool production.

Agricultural Roots

Ono’s scissor-making tradition traces back to the mid-18th century, when local blacksmiths producing farming implements began adapting their skills to create household and tailoring scissors. The region’s access to quality iron sand and charcoal, combined with an established metalworking culture, provided the foundation for what would become a nationally significant scissors industry.

By the Meiji period (1868-1912), Ono was producing scissors for export alongside domestic consumption. The city’s output diversified into industrial, medical, and eventually professional hairdressing scissors as demand evolved.

A Different Production Philosophy

Where Seki City is defined by its bungyosei (分業制) division-of-labour system — with different specialists handling forging, grinding, handle fitting, and assembly — Ono maintains a more traditional individual-craftsman approach. A single artisan or small workshop often handles the entire production process from raw steel to finished scissors.

This has practical implications for the final product. Ono-made scissors tend to reflect a single maker’s sensibility throughout. The forging, grinding angle, handle shaping, and final adjustment all carry one craftsman’s preferences and quality standards. The result can be scissors with a distinctive character that is difficult to replicate through distributed production.

Companies of Note

Mork Scissors operates from Ono and exemplifies the city’s approach: smaller-scale production with an emphasis on hand-finishing and individual quality control. Other Ono-based manufacturers serve both domestic and export markets, though many operate at volumes that keep them below international radar.

Less Known, Equally Important

Ono’s lower profile compared to Seki is partly a matter of scale — Seki accounts for approximately 99% of Japan’s hairdressing scissors by production volume — and partly marketing. Seki has invested heavily in promoting its cutlery heritage through the annual Cutlery Festival, the Seki Cutlery Museum, and organised factory tours. Ono has been quieter about its own story.

That quietness should not be mistaken for lesser quality. For stylists seeking scissors with a distinctly handmade character and 250 years of craft tradition behind them, Ono City deserves serious attention.