Meet the Makers

At East-West Tools we partner directly with Japan’s master toolsmiths, each with generations of skill in forging secateurs, shears, planes, and chisels. This page introduces the makers behind our collection, highlighting the traditions, steels, and regions that give each tool its character. By learning about the craftspeople, you can better understand the heritage and quality built into every piece we offer.

Tobisho Secateurs (株式会社飛庄)

Tobisho Secateurs (株式会社飛庄)

Tobisho secateurs are hand-forged in Yamagata, Japan for professional gardeners and serious home users. At East West Tools you will only find their pruning tools. Type A Damascus, SR-1, and more – in stock and shipped across Australia from our Perth workshop.

Based in Yamagata (山形), Tobisho produces pruning and garden shears using traditional forging, precise heat treatment, and measured inspection. Many processes are completed by hand, with over 200 individual steps from material prep to finishing. (Source: https://www.tobisho.jp/process)

Shop Tobisho Secateurs
Yoshioka Hamono

Yoshioka Hamono

Yoshioka Hamono has been crafting precision shears and scissors in Ono City, Hyōgo since 1946. Beginning as a maker of dressmaking scissors, Yoshioka refined their skills over decades to create some of Japan’s most balanced and durable topiary and pruning shears. Each tool is hand-adjusted to microscopic tolerances for perfect alignment and a smooth, clean cut.

Learn more