Tobisho (株式会社飛庄) works from Yamagata City, Japan, making pruning and garden shears. Its own material places the company in a practical tradition: forged tools, careful checking, and attention to edge life and durability for serious garden work. The company also describes inspection support through the Yamagata Industrial Technology Center. (Source: https://www.tobisho.jp/about)
The process is slower than the finished tool suggests. Depending on the model, a pair of shears can move through more than 200 steps: forging, brazing on specific models, quenching and tempering, grinding, urasuki hollowing, edge shaping, assembly and hand finishing. The important part for the gardener is simple: the blade should cut cleanly, the joint should feel right, and the tool should be worth maintaining. (Source: https://www.tobisho.jp/process)
KA70 and Aogami #2 are both used for serious Japanese pruning tools, but they are chosen for different reasons. KA70 is generally chosen when a maker wants a practical mix of toughness, edge holding and straightforward sharpening. Aogami #2 is an alloyed carbon steel often used when higher edge retention is the priority, as long as the heat treatment, blade geometry and intended use suit a harder edge.
Tobisho dates its modern company founding to 1930 (Showa 5) under Shōjirō Tobitsuka. Today it is based in Hinokicho, Yamagata City. (Source: https://www.tobisho.jp/about)
For Australian customers looking for Tobisho secateurs, East West Tools carries a small, focused range supplied directly from Yamagata and checked in Perth before dispatch. Start with the Tobisho SR-1 pruning shears for all-round pruning, or the Tobisho topiary clippers for detailed hedge and topiary work.
