Japanese Garden Tools

Japanese Shears & Loppers

Japanese hedge, shaping and heavy-pruning shears for flat hedges, rounded forms and mixed live growth.

Japanese shears cover several different jobs: light one-hand finishing, broad flat-hedge shaping, rounded forms and heavier live-stem work. The current range contains one-hand, hedge and heavy-pruning shears rather than a conventional compound or bypass lopper.

For smaller pruning jobs, browse Japanese secateurs and pruning shears. For cleaning, oiling and sharpening, use Japanese tool care and sharpening, or return to the broader Japanese garden tools range.

Find the right shears

Which shears suit the way you work?

Start with the surface you are shaping and the type of growth you meet. Blade length controls coverage, while handle format and blade geometry control where each model feels most useful.

Start here

Choose one-hand models for light finishing, long Yoshioka hedge shears for flat hedge coverage, or Doukan, Nokokari or Araki for mixed live growth.

Showing all models

Doukan No.0103
Best mixed-growth value

680mm overall

Doukan No.0103

Dual-purpose 180mm blade; approx. 25mm guide at base

Choose it for: Mixed hedge growth and occasional thicker live branches.

Use a lopper or saw if the cut requires force.

$120.00
Yoshioka Kihachi 240mm
Broad blade, compact handles

240mm blade / 580mm overall

Yoshioka Kihachi 240mm

Blue Paper No. 2 steel; 270mm honyaki-finished handles

Choose it for: Broad hedge coverage in tighter areas and during ladder work.

Honyaki-handle model; for leaves and small twigs, not thick branches.

$315.00
Yoshioka Nokokari No.401
Best grip on springy stems

180mm blade / 270mm handles

Yoshioka Nokokari No.401

One serrated blade; short-handle control

Choose it for: Mixed hedge growth that tends to slip away from smooth blades.

Use the blade base for live stems near the maker guide.

$130.00
Tobisho 270mm One-Hand
Straight or curved one-handSold out

270mm overall

Tobisho 270mm One-Hand

One-hand double blade; straight and curved variants

Choose it for: Straight for flat faces or curved for rounded forms.

Leaf and soft-growth shaping only. Currently sold out.

$179.00 – $210.00
Toyama Hamono T16
Spring-loaded one-handSold out

270mm overall / 110mm blade

Toyama Hamono T16

High-carbon steel; spring-loaded action

Choose it for: Controlled hedge, shrub and topiary surface finishing.

Currently sold out.

$170.00
Yoshioka Araki No.123
Best for heavier live stems

170mm blade / 450mm handles

Yoshioka Araki No.123

White Paper steel; serrated grip near blade base

Choose it for: Heavy-pruning work within mixed hedges and shrubs.

Heavy-pruning hedge shears, not conventional loppers.

$160.00
Yoshioka Karikomi
Fastest flat-hedge coverage

270 or 300mm blade

Yoshioka Karikomi

Long Yasugi Blue Paper No. 2 steel blades

Choose it for: Broad, flat hedge faces where coverage per stroke matters.

Choose 270mm for manageability or 300mm for maximum coverage.

$300.00 – $340.00
Yoshioka Kihachi 210mm
Long-handle all-rounder

210mm blade / 680mm overall

Yoshioka Kihachi 210mm

Blue Paper No. 2 steel; 390mm honyaki-finished handles

Choose it for: Stable-ground hedge work needing reach and cutting momentum.

Honyaki-handle model; use a heavier pruning tool for thicker branches.

$280.00
Yoshioka No.122(B)
Rounded forms & close shaping

225mm blade / 330mm handles

Yoshioka No.122(B)

Curved Yasugi White Paper steel blade

Choose it for: Controlled pruning and shaping around rounded plant forms.

Use secateurs or heavier tools for thick wood.

$300.00
Compare the model matrix
Model Dimensions Construction / defining feature Best reason to choose it Cutting guide Price & status
Doukan No.0103 680mm overall Dual-purpose 180mm blade; 680mm overall Value and versatility across mixed hedge growth Approx. 25mm live growth at blade base $120.00In stock
Yoshioka Kihachi 240mm 240mm blade / 580mm overall 240mm Blue Paper No. 2 steel blade; honyaki-finished handles Broad cutting edge without a long overall tool Leaves and small twigs $315.00In stock
Yoshioka Nokokari No.401 180mm blade / 270mm handles Serrated 180mm blade; 270mm handles Grip and control on springy live growth Up to 15mm live growth at blade base $130.00In stock
Tobisho 270mm One-Hand 270mm overall One-hand double blade; two blade shapes Light finishing with the blade shape matched to the surface Leaves and soft green growth $179.00 – $210.00Sold out
Toyama Hamono T16 270mm overall / 110mm blade Spring-loaded one-hand shear; 110mm blade Compact, controlled finishing work Approx. 3mm at tip / 8mm at blade base $170.00Sold out
Yoshioka Araki No.123 170mm blade / 450mm handles Heavy-pruning shear; 450mm handles More leverage on suitable live stems within a hedge Up to 15mm live growth at blade base $160.00In stock
Yoshioka Karikomi 270 or 300mm blade 270 or 300mm Blue Paper No. 2 steel blade Fast levelling across broad, flat hedge faces Leaves and soft hedge growth $300.00 – $340.00In stock
Yoshioka Kihachi 210mm 210mm blade / 680mm overall 210mm Blue Paper No. 2 steel blade; honyaki-finished handles Reach and momentum during stable-ground hedge trimming Leaves, shoots and small twigs $280.00In stock
Yoshioka No.122(B) 225mm blade / 330mm handles Curved 225mm White Paper steel blade Following rounded forms with a controlled long edge Suitable live pruning and soft shaping growth $300.00In stock

What changes between models

Choose by surface, growth and reach—not by price alone.

  • Hand formatOne-hand shears suit light finishing; two-hand shears add reach and coverage.
  • Blade geometryStraight, curved and serrated edges solve different shaping and grip problems.
  • CoverageLonger blades level broad hedge faces faster but give up some close-work control.
  • Cutting limitsCapacity guides apply near the blade base on suitable live growth. Do not force hard or dry wood.

Prices and availability update from the current product listings. The current range contains one-hand, hedge and heavy-pruning shears; it does not currently include a conventional compound or bypass lopper.

Japanese shears for shaping and mixed growth

Choose one-hand shears for light finishing, long straight blades for broad flat hedges, curved blades for rounded forms, and serrated or heavy-pruning shears for suitable mixed live growth.

What to look for

  • One-hand models give close control on leaves and soft surface growth.
  • Long 210–300mm blades cover broad hedge faces faster.
  • Curved and serrated blades solve different shaping and grip problems.
  • Cutting-capacity guides apply near the blade base on suitable live growth; do not force hard, dry or oversized wood.
  • The current range does not include a conventional compound or bypass lopper.

Best uses

These models suit hedge levelling, rounded shrubs, topiary finishing and mixed live growth. Pair them with Japanese secateurs for smaller follow-up cuts and a pruning saw for wood beyond the tool's stated guide.

Japanese Shears & Loppers FAQs

Can I adjust the joint if play develops?

Several Yoshioka models use an adjustable screw with a locknut: 10mm on the Araki and Karikomi models, and 9mm on the Nokokari. Tighten only enough for smooth blade contact, then oil the joint. Do not assume riveted or otherwise unspecified joints adjust the same way.

Which shear type should I choose?

Choose one-hand shears for light finishing, the Yoshioka Kihachi 210mm or 240mm honyaki-handle models for flat hedge coverage, the longer 270mm or 300mm Yoshioka Karikomi models for maximum coverage, the curved Yoshioka No.122(B) for rounded shaping, Nokokari for springy growth that slips, and Doukan or Araki for suitable mixed live stems. The current range does not include a conventional lopper.

What steel are the blades?

The stocked Yoshioka Kihachi 210mm and 240mm honyaki-handle models, along with the 270mm and 300mm Yoshioka Karikomi models, use Yasugi Blue Paper No. 2 steel. Araki No.123 and Yoshioka No.122(B) use Yasugi White Paper steel without a stated grade number. Nokokari uses special cutlery steel, and Toyama T16 uses high-carbon steel.

Tools that sharpen, not replace

Built for longevity. Proper care reduces waste and improves performance over time.

Care guide

Crafted in Japan

Forged by skilled makers using time-honoured techniques. We buy direct from small workshops.

Fast dispatch from Perth

Orders placed before 12pm ship same day from Perth. Delivery times vary by location.

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