Seki 13-Step Process
This process is documented by V.ROAD (Yaoki Industry), a Seki City manufacturer. It is one maker’s useful production outline, not a universal sequence for every Seki or Japanese scissor. Use it to understand the terms, then check how the exact maker and model describe automated and manual work.
Follow a process claim from step to finished-tool scope
General metallurgy and a named factory claim are different evidence layers; preserve the material, step, actor, and exact product. Apply to Seki 13-Step Process
- 01 Define Use the process term precisely and distinguish adjacent methods.
- 02 Place the step Record input material, sequence position, controls, and stated purpose.
- 03 Verify the actor Separate general process context from named factory documentation.
- 04 Bound the claim Attach any property or origin statement to the exact finished product.
Do not inferA forge, spark, hammer, heat, workshop, or process name cannot prove a scissor factory, alloy, temperature, grain flow, quality, or result.
The 13-Step Scissor Manufacturing Process
The 13 steps
| # | Japanese | Romaji | English | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | プレス | puresu | Press / Stamping | Steel sheet is stamped into the rough blade blank using a die press. Higher-end manufacturers may use laser cutting for tighter tolerances. |
| 2 | 焼き入れ | yakiire | Quenching / Hardening | The blank is heated above 1,000°C (varies by steel — VG-10 needs 1,050–1,100°C, GIN-3 needs 1,000–1,050°C) then rapidly cooled, transforming the crystal structure from austenite to martensite. |
| 3 | 背研ぎ | setogi | Back Grinding | The spine is ground to establish the blade’s profile thickness and taper. |
| 4 | 表研ぎ/バフ | omotogi / bafu | Surface Grinding / Buffing | The flat outer surface is ground and polished. Mirror polish reduces friction; satin finish hides daily scratches. |
| 5 | 裏スキ | urasuki | Hollow Grinding (Inner Face) | The concave inner face is ground to create the maker’s intended contact relationship. V.ROAD describes hand execution as a specialist skill. |
| 6 | 刃スキ | hasuki | Edge Grinding / Formation | The cutting edge is formed — convex (hamaguri), beveled, or semi-convex profile. |
| 7 | 洗浄 | senjō | Cleaning | All grinding residue and metal particles are removed before final finishing. |
| 8 | 成形 | seikei | Shaping / Forming | Final handle, finger ring, and finger rest shaping. Some manufacturers forge handles separately and weld them to blades. |
| 9 | 小刃付け | kobatsuke | Micro-Edge Finishing | The final edge is prepared to the maker’s intended geometry and finish. |
| 10 | カシメ | kashime | Riveting / Pivot Assembly | The two halves are assembled at the pivot and checked for alignment and closure. |
| 11 | 調子見 | chōshimi | Tension & Alignment Check | A craftsperson tests opening/closing feel, blade alignment, tension, and ride quality. Adjustments are made by hand. |
| 12 | 検品 | kenpin | Quality Inspection | Final inspection for visual defects, functional performance, and specification compliance. |
| 13 | 包装 | hōsō | Packaging | Protective packaging with care instructions, warranty, and accessories. |
About ura-suki (裏スキ) — Step 5
Ura-suki is the hollow on the inner blade face. In the process documented here, it helps create the intended space and contact relationship between the blades.
Its geometry can affect:
- How smoothly the scissors open and close (friction)
- How cleanly they cut (blade contact precision)
- How long the edge lasts (reduced wear from unnecessary blade-to-blade contact)
V.ROAD and the S2 Scissors selection guide both emphasize ura-suki in their own explanations. That does not make it a country-of-origin test or a universal quality ranking; confirm the construction and service needs of the exact model.
A note on “step counts”
Published manufacturing-step totals use different definitions and levels of detail. Grinding, inspection, or finishing may be counted as one stage or several tasks. Treat a total as a description of that maker’s presentation, not as a cross-brand quality score.
Sources
- V.ROAD / Yaoki Industry — Manufacturing Process (Japanese, Seki City manufacturer)
- S2 Scissors — Selection Guide (Japanese)
Related: Heat Treatment • Hot Forging • Quality Control • Seki City
See Also
Sources
1 source- 🇯🇵 S2 Hasami (エスツー) (Japanese)
Frequently Asked Questions
3 answers you can open one at a timeHow many steps are in scissor manufacturing?
V.ROAD/Yaoki Industry documents 13 stages in its own process. Other makers group and count tasks differently, so published step totals are not directly comparable and do not rank finished quality.
How does Seki City 13-Step Process affect the finished scissor?
Ura-suki (裏スキ) is the hollow grinding of the inner blade face. It helps define the contact relationship between the blades, but the exact geometry and production method vary by maker and model.
Where are most Japanese scissors manufactured?
Seki City is a documented Japanese cutlery center with professional-scissor activity. That regional history does not establish where an exact model was made; use the maker’s current product and origin statement.
Comments & questions
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