Japanese pruning shears: a detailed guide how to choose, steel, brands and care
Japanese pruning shears are appreciated not only for the sharpness of the new tool. Its main advantage is the combination of blade geometry, correctly selected steel, heat treatment, precise fit of the two halves of the pruning shears and convenient mechanics. That is why high-quality pruning shears from Japan are equally interesting for amateur gardeners, tool collectors, gardeners, nurserymen and plant shaping specialists.
At the same time, the concept of "Japanese pruning shears" unites very different tools. It can be a simple and almost unchanged for decades Okatsune, a technologically advanced ARS with interchangeable parts and a chrome-plated blade, forged Tobisho or lightweight professional Chikamasa scissors for flowers and crops.
Therefore, the question "what is the best Japanese pruning shear?" does not have one universal answer. The best pruning shears are the one that corresponds to the size of the hand, the type of plants and the nature of the work.
Why Japanese pruning shears are so expensive?
The Japanese culture of cutting tool making really has deep metallurgical traditions. However, the statement that modern pruning shears are directly descended from the technology of catane production would be too simplistic.
It is more correct to talk about the continuity of the Japanese culture of steel processing. The manufacturer Yasugi Specialty Steel, for example, links the modern production of special steels with more than a thousand years of tradition in Japanese ironmaking and the tatara method. Today, modern smelting, heat treatment and quality control processes are used.
It is the combination of artisanal approach and modern metallurgy that characterizes Japanese garden tools well.
In practice, a good Japanese pruning shears are distinguished by:
high sharpness of the cutting edge;
the small thickness of a properly formed blade;
accurate passage of the cutting blade relative to the support blade;
high-quality heat treatment of steel;
minimum backlash in the central joint;
good balance;
the ability to maintain working sharpness for a long time if used correctly.
These advantages are especially well felt with repeated pruning: when you have to make not 10-20, but hundreds of cuts per day.
What does a Japanese pruning shears consist of: design and main features
Most classic garden pruning shears consist of a cutting blade, a support blade, a central bolt or rivet, a spring, a retainer and two handles.
But the quality of work is not determined by the number of parts, but by how they interact with each other.
Blade and support
In the classic bypass pruning shears, the sharpened cutting blade passes next to the support blade, like the two halves of a pair of scissors.
This design allows you to get a clean cut of live wood with relatively little tissue damage.
For example, Tobisho pays special attention to the geometry of the interaction between the cutting blade and the support blade. The manufacturer uses a special shape of the support surface, thanks to which the contact moves sequentially from the base to the tip - convex geometry that resembles the valve of a mollusk and reduces resistance when passing through wood.
That is why, when comparing pruning shears, it is not enough to look only at the steel grade.
The geometry of the blade sometimes affects the quality of the cut no less than the steel itself.
Springs
Japanese pruning shears have several spring options.
Classic models often use a simple V-shaped or band spring. The advantage of this design is a minimum of parts, ease of replacement and reliability.
Other manufacturers use coil springs and more complex mechanisms.
When choosing a professional tool, it is useful to find out in advance whether spare springs are sold. This is a consumable element that is much easier to replace than the entire pruning shears.
Fixators
The retainer can be located:
at the bottom of the handles - a typical solution for many traditional Japanese models;
or
on the side/top near the hinge or handle - often found in modern technological pruning shears.
It cannot be said that one option is objectively better than the other. The main thing is whether you can open and close the pruning shears with one hand with the usual movement.
Japanese steel for pruning shears: SK-5, Aogami, Shirogami and other steels
One of the most common misconceptions is to choose pruning shears solely by the name of the steel.
Steel is really important, but the final properties of the tool also depend on quenching, tempering, blade geometry, thickness of the cutting edge and the quality of sharpening.
SK-5 / SK85
SK-5 is the designation for high-carbon tool steel, which is often found in descriptions of Japanese cutting tools. In the modern Japanese classification, you can also find the designation SK85.
Such steel allows you to get a hard and sharp cutting edge and is well suited for pruning shears, shears and other garden tools.
Its main compromise is corrosion resistance.
Carbon pruning shears should not be left wet after work.
Plant sap, moisture and fertilizers can accelerate the appearance of stains and corrosion.
Yasugi Steel: Aogami
Aogami, or "blue paper", refers to the famous Yasugi series of special steels.
According to manufacturer Proterial, Aogami contains tungsten and chromium added to improve heat treatment and wear resistance. Aogami Super additionally uses vanadium.
Such steel is able to hold a sharp cutting edge very well, so it is especially valued in high-end knives and specialized cutting tools.
But the presence of the word Aogami alone does not make the pruning shears the best. A very hard, thin blade requires competent use: it should not twist a branch, cut wire or try to bite through wood much thicker than provided by the manufacturer.
Shirogami
Shirogami - "white paper" - also refers to Yasugi Specialty Steel.
Unlike Aogami, it is a high-purity carbon steel with a minimized amount of impurities. The manufacturer characterizes different grades of Shirogami as steels for high-quality cutting tools, including chisels, planer irons, sickles, axes, knives and other products.
It is able to accept an extremely thin cutting edge, but like other carbon steels, it requires protection from moisture.
Stainless Steel
Not every professional Japanese tool needs to be carbon.
For floristry, harvesting and working in wet conditions, high-quality stainless steel is often more practical.
For example, Chikamasa, ARS, Toyama Hamono, Niwashi, Takagi KIKUDO, Diawood produce professional scissors and pruning shears made of high-quality stainless knife steel, designed, among other things, for picking vegetables and other agricultural work.
Therefore, the question should not be "carbon or stainless steel – which is better?", but which is better for your working conditions.
What are the types of Japanese pruning shears?
Bypass pruning shears
If you are looking for a universal bypass pruning shears Japan, it is with this category that you should start choosing.
In the bypass design, the cutting blade passes near the support blade. This principle is optimal for most garden tasks:
pruning roses, fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, grapes and young branches.
A clean cut is especially important for living plants, since severely crushed tissues heal worse.
Many classic models from Okatsune, ARS, Tobisho and other Japanese manufacturers belong to this category.
Pruning shears and shears for flowers and thin shoots
For flowers, you do not need heavy pruning shears designed for a 20 mm branch.
A long narrow blade, light weight and a soft spring are much more convenient here.
Such scissors are used for:
cutting flowers, removing faded inflorescences, cuttings, harvesting vegetables and fruits, working with grapes and forming young shoots.
It is in this category that the Chikamasa brand is especially strong. The company produces separate series for agriculture, flowers, horticulture and floristry.
Bonsai and precision plant shaping scissors
When working with bonsai, it is not the maximum cutting diameter that is required, but control.
The tool should allow you to get inside the crown, accurately determine the place of cutting and not damage neighboring shoots.
Compact scissors, 芽切鋏 - mekiri-basami, elongated models and specialized scissors are used.
Tobisho, for example, classifies its mekiri scissors as tools for pines, bonsai, fruit crops, vegetables, and other precision gardening jobs.
Anvil pruning shears
Anvil pruning shears work differently: the cutting blade is lowered onto the support platform.
This design is especially useful when working with stiffer or drier wood, but has a different effect on the branch than bypass.
For example, the Chikamasa assortment also includes professional anvil pruning shears, including models with a replaceable blade.
For regular pruning of live young branches, bypass is more often chosen. For dry, rigid wood, having a separate anvil tool can be a convenient solution.
The main Japanese brands of pruning shears
Okatsune – Japanese classics
Okatsune is a good example of the "nothing superfluous" philosophy.
The brand has been around since 1925, and the construction of its classic instruments has retained its recognizable simplicity for decades.
The most famous series is:
Okatsune 101 – for a small hand;
Okatsune 103 is a medium and most versatile size;
Okatsune 104 – for a large hand.
This approach is very convenient: the gardener chooses almost the same tool concept in the right size.
Okatsune's strengths are simplicity, balance, a minimum of unnecessary mechanisms and a very characteristic feeling of a clean cut.
This is a great option for a person who wants to buy one classic Japanese pruning shears and use it for many years.
ARS – Technology and Practicality
If Okatsune embodies minimalism, then ARS pruning shears are more focused on engineering solutions.
The company's assortment includes different sizes, ergonomic handles, interchangeable elements and models for professional use.
ARS VS-7Z - for a small hand;
ARS VS-8Z - Medium and most versatile size;
The ARS VS-9Z is for a large hand.
Many ARS pruning shears use high-carbon steel with Hard-Chrome plating. For example, the official specifications of the 120DX, 130DX and 140DX models indicate High Carbon Steel and a hard chrome coating.
Chrome plating reduces the adhesion of dirt and increases the resistance of the surface to corrosion, although it does not completely eliminate the need for maintenance.
ARS is especially interesting for those who work a lot with tools and appreciate the combination of light weight, ergonomics and manufacturability.
Tobisho – traditional craft and premium segment
Tobisho is a brand of Tobitsuka Seikyojo from Yamagata, a region with a well-known tradition in the production of cutting tools.
The company produces pruning shears, 芽切鋏, garden shears, and left-handed models. In production, great attention is paid not only to steel, but also to the geometry of the blades, the manual adjustment of the central connection and the characteristic shape of the cutting edge.
Tobisho has both classic professional pruning shears and more specialized products. Some models do use Aogami: for example, the manufacturer lists blue steel for certain professional A-series scissors.
The main advantage of Tobisho is the feel of a custom-made professional tool.
It is a good choice for the gardener who already understands the difference between just sharp pruning shears and a finely tuned forged tool.
Chikamasa – Flowers, Crops & Professional Gardening
Chikamasa is one of the most interesting growers for those who are not only engaged in tree pruning.
The brand's assortment includes:
floral shears, scissors for grapes, fruit and vegetable picking, thinning, professional pruning shears, tools with fluorine coatings, stainless steel models and models with interchangeable blades.
The company directly positions its scissors for agriculture, flower, gardening and craft.
Therefore, Chikamasa is especially worth considering for florists, owners of vineyards, greenhouses, fruit farms and those who often work with thin green shoots.
Toyama Hamono – A personal approach to garden tools
Toyama Hamono is a Japanese manufacturer, in the assortment of which the exclusivity of the model and an individual approach to the cutting tool play a significant role.
When choosing pruning shears / scissors of this brand, it makes sense to look first of all not at the name of the manufacturer, but at the specific design of the model, steel, your personal needs in work.
Toyama Hamono is especially interesting for users who are looking for an alternative to the most traditional design and want to own an exclusive Japanese instrument with an original design.
Comparison of Japanese brands of pruning shears
Brand | Steel & Machining | Character of the instrument | Price | Who is it for? |
Okatsune | High Quality Japanese Carbon Steel | Classic bypass, minimum mechanisms | Medium | Universal garden pruning |
ARS | Carbon and other knife steels, on many Hard Chrome models | Technological, lightweight, ergonomic | Medium | Frequent and professional work |
Tobisho | Carbon steels, in selected Aogami models | Forged traditional tools | High | Professionals and connoisseurs of premium tools |
Chikamasa | Carbon and stainless knife steels | Huge selection of specialized scissors | Medium | Floristry, harvest, grapes, garden |
Toyama Hamono | Depends on the series | Emphasis on mechanics and special solutions | High | Users with specific tasks |
How to choose Japanese pruning shears: a step-by-step guide
1. Find the right size for your hand
This is one of the most important and often ignored parameters.
Too large pruning shears make you constantly stretch your fingers. Too small reduces the lever and forces you to apply more force.
The convenient sizing system is clearly seen in the example of Okatsune:
101 – small hand;
103 – medium;
104 — large.
For models from other manufacturers, sizes may be S, M and L
ARS VS-7Z (S) - for a small hand;
ARS VS-9Z(L) — for large hand.
For a person with a small brush, a high-quality 180 mm pruner is often better than a powerful 210-230 mm tool.
2. Define the main task
For roses, shrubs and fruit trees, choose bypass pruning shears.
For flowers and thin green shoots, use light scissors or professional snips.
For harvesting, specialized scissors with a short or curved blade are used.
For dry wood, a powerful bypass or anvil is used , depending on the task.
For topiary trimming and precise shaping, lightweight scissors with a long, controlled blade.
3. Don't buy pruning shears just for the maximum cutting diameter
If the manufacturer writes 20 mm, this does not mean that the tool should be constantly used on branches of maximum thickness.
The thicker and harder the wood, the higher the load on the cutting edge, hinge and arm.
For regular branches of about 25-30 mm, it is better to use a lopper or saw than to test a small manual pruner at the limit every time.
4. Consider weight
The difference between 150 and 250 grams seems small only on paper.
After several hundred cuts, it becomes very noticeable.
For long-term work, a lightweight, well-balanced tool is often more convenient than a massive fully forged model.
5. Decide how much care you're willing to provide
If you are ready to clean and lubricate the tool with camellia oil after work , carbon steel will be a great option.
If the tool is regularly in contact with moisture and you want minimal maintenance, it makes sense to look at stainless steel or a protected coating.
Caring for Japanese pruning shears
Even the best Japanese pruning shears will quickly lose its benefits if you constantly leave plant sap and moisture on the blade.
After work, it is advisable to clean, dry and lightly lubricate the pruning shears.
Particular attention should be paid to carbon steel.
How to clean blades
Fresh plant sap is usually removed much more easily than dried resin.
For care, the following are used:
specialized cleaners for garden tools, erasers for removing resin (Naniwa rust Eraser cleaning block) and surface corrosion, soft cloth and camellia protective oil.
After removing dirt, the surface must be wiped dry.
A very thin layer of oil can be applied to carbon tools, such as camellia oil or specialized cutting tool oil.
Excess oil is not needed - a thin protective film is enough.
Sharpening Japanese pruning shears
The correct sharpening of a Japanese pruning shears begins not with the choice of stone grain, but with an understanding of the geometry of a particular tool.
The main mistake is to arbitrarily change the factory angle.
What stones to use for sharpening
For the usual restoration of sharpness, water stones of about 1000 grit are well suited.
For fine-tuning - 3000 grit and above.
Rough stone of about 220-400 grit is needed only in case of serious damage to the cutting edge: chips, jams or the need to restore geometry.
You should not use such a stone for every planned sharpening - it removes too much metal.
Diamond plates are also suitable, especially for quick straightening of hard steel, but require careful work.
At what angle should you sharpen pruning shears
There is no universal "Japanese angle".
Different manufacturers and types of scissors have different geometries. Therefore, the correct rule is:
Maintain the existing factory chamfer angle.
On the classic bypass pruning shears, the main sharpening is carried out according to the chamfer of the cutting blade. The flat side should only be very delicately cleaned of the formed burr, if the design allows it.
Do not aggressively grind down the support blade: changing its geometry can create a gap, after which the pruning shears will begin not to cut, but to clamp the fibers.
For scissors with two cutting blades, the factory chamfer of each blade is machined.
For special profiles, such as the convex hamaguri-ba, trying to turn the factory geometry into a normal flat chamfer can degrade the tool's performance.
Therefore, for expensive Tobisho and other traditional forged models, frequent light redressing is preferable instead of occasional aggressive resharpening.
Which Japanese pruning shears should you buy?
If you need a versatile tool for a regular garden, a good starting point is a classic medium-sized bypass.
Okatsune should be chosen for its simplicity and traditional design.
ARS — if light weight, ergonomics, coatings and manufacturability are important.
Tobisho is if you are looking for a premium Japanese instrument with a pronounced craft component.
Chikamasa – if, in addition to the usual pruning, you work a lot with flowers, grapes, crops and thin shoots.
Toyama Hamono is worth considering when you need an exclusive, beautiful and high-quality tool for a gift.
At the same time, the inscription "Made in Japan" itself does not determine the quality of the cut.
The real advantage of a good tool is created by a combination of factors: steel + heat treatment + geometry + assembly + correct size + competent care.
Checklist before buying Japanese pruning shears
Define the task. For live branches, choose bypass, for flowers - light snips, for dry wood, consider a more powerful or anvil tool.
Find the right size for your hand. A small brush is S or about 180 mm, a medium brush is M/about 200 mm, and a large brush is L. Always check the specific dimensions with the model.
Do not chase only the steel grade. Aogami, SK-5 or other premium Japanese steel for pruning shears only matters together with high-quality heat treatment and blade geometry.
Check the service. The presence of a replaceable spring, center bolt, blade or other spare parts can significantly extend the life of the tool.
Be prepared to take care of the pruning shears. Cleaning after work, proper storage, protective oil and periodic dressing allow a good Japanese tool to serve for many years.
When choosing Japanese pruning shears, it is better to look not for an abstract "sharpest" tool, but for a model that is suitable for your hand and plants. This is the main advantage of the Japanese market of garden tools: from the simple Okatsune to the technologically advanced ARS or forged Tobisho, here you can choose pruning shears for almost any style of work.
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