Okatsune

Overview

Okatsune is a Japanese brand specializing in high-quality pruning shears, secateurs, bonsai tools, and related garden implements forged from Izumo Yasugi steel.¹²⁵ It holds a leading position in Japan for professional gardening tools and is distributed worldwide, including exclusively in Europe by De Wild BV.¹² The brand is noted for its traditional blacksmithing methods rooted in samurai sword-making techniques.¹⁵

History

Tsuneichi Okano, who began blacksmithing as an apprentice in 1925, founded Okatsune in the 1940s in Hiroshima, Japan, naming it after himself and initially producing top-quality scissors using traditional forging.¹²⁴ The company expanded its range to include secateurs, snips, hedge shears, bonsai scissors, and Ikebana tools.¹² It is now managed by the third generation of the Okano family.²

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are forged in Japan using traditional blacksmithing methods with Izumo Yasugi steel, maintaining in-house production standards.¹²⁵

Notable Products

• Okatsune 103 - Classic pruning shear model known for sharp cuts and durability.
• Okatsune 207 - Standard pruner used by professionals.
• Bonsai Scissors - Specialized for precise bonsai work.
• Ikebana Scissors - Designed for flower arrangement precision.
• Hedge Shears - For hedge trimming with clean cuts.

Reputation

Okatsune tools are regarded by professionals, arborists, and bonsai enthusiasts as highly reliable for their sharpness, clean cuts, and long-term durability due to Japanese steel and craftsmanship.⁵⁷ They are preferred over competitors like Felco by some landscapers for design and cut quality.⁷ The brand maintains strong trust without notable criticisms in available sources.⁵