The Yoshioka Nokokari is a specialised Japanese hedge shear designed for gardeners who want more bite and control than a standard smooth blade shear can offer.
Made by Yoshioka Edged-Tool Works in Ono City, Hyogo, this model uses a distinctive Nokokari blade pattern, with one serrated blade and one straight blade. That combination helps grip the branch as you cut, reducing slip and making it easier to work through tougher, springy growth that can escape ordinary hedge shears.
The short handle is the more compact version in the Nokokari range. With a 180 mm blade and 270 mm short nata-style handles, it is easier to control in close work than the longer handle version, especially when trimming shrubs, refining hedge lines, or cutting back mixed growth where you need both power and accuracy.
Yoshioka also uses urasuki, a hollow ground back, and a 9 mm screw assembly locked with a nut for a traditional serviceable construction. The No.401 is rated for cutting green wood up to 15 mm, while still allowing finer work out toward the blade tip.
Yoshioka has been making edged tools in Ono since 1946 and expanded into gardening shears in 1973. The brand is known for tools that cut cleanly, feel balanced in the hand, and are made to be maintained over time rather than thrown away.
For customers, the real appeal is simple. It bridges the gap between light hedge trimming and heavier shrub work. It has more grip than standard hedge shears, more finesse than a lopper, and a compact shape that suits detailed pruning, hedge shaping and general garden maintenance.
KEY FEATURES
• Hand forged by Yoshioka in Ono City, Japan
• No.401 short handle model
• One serrated blade and one straight blade for improved grip on branches
• Designed to reduce slipping during the cut
• 180 mm blade length
• 270 mm short nata-style handles
• Urasuki hollow grind
• Nut-locked screw construction
• Suitable for green wood up to 15 mm
• Compact size for hedge shaping, shrub trimming and controlled garden work
