Whetstone Okatsune 412

n the 40’s of the last century Tsuneichi Okano, who began his career as a blacksmith apprentice in 1925, established the company Okatsune in Hiroshima, Japan. He derived the word Okatsune from his own name. At the beginning Okano forged a limited supply of top quality shears. This was done in a traditional manner, and following a unique process. Over the years, he gradually expanded the product range, always striving for perfection. He made the handles red / white, a combination that stands out, and is in Japan symbolizing happiness. Almost 70 years later Okatsune is in Japan the undisputed number 1, and his shears are being used all over the world with much pleasure. The product range currently consists of pruning shears, cutting and harvesting shears, hedge shears, Bonsai scissors, and Ikebana scissors for traditional Japanese floral arrangements.

Okatsune’s razor-sharp shears are uniquely forged from the best Izumo Yasugi steel, which is traditionally being used for the Katana swords used by the Samurai. Izumo Yasugi steel is forged from charcoal and iron sand by the best master blacksmiths of Japan, using an age-old technology. This process only takes place in the Izumo region, solely using Izumo iron sand. Tsuneichi Okano has managed to industrially produce superior shears that have a very high Rockwell hardness of 60.0 to 61.0 – unrivalled by other brands, through an innovative tempering process. Therefore, the blades stay sharp for a long time and they consistently give a clean and precise cut in the wood, without giving much effort. Furthermore, Okatsune combines the hardness with a special flexibility, so that the cutting blade always aligns with the counter blade, even after intensive usage. This perfection, and unique quality can be recognized by the “singing” of the shears.