Tokyo Uchihamono [ Hand-Forged Blades ]

Miura Yasunobu

This is when the Tokyo Uchihamono (hand-forged blades) became a Japanese traditional art. From the Meiji Period onward, the making of Western-style clothes became popular and instead of making swords, swordsmiths began to use their skills to make scissors.

Yasuhiro Miura of Shozaburo succeeded his father as a 3rd generation artisan with over 60 years of experience. Miura’s “hasami”, or scissors, are made to cut cloth and are a favorite of various other businesses. For example, the scissors can be used to cut kombu (sea kelp) and people in the interior design industry use them to cut wallpaper. These scissors can be found all over Japan in cutlery shops and dress shops.

Today, the scissors are not made solely in the traditional ways, as it now incorporates machines to improve productivity. This lengthy manufacturing process is as follows:

 

1. Miura first starts with the blade and the handle. The blade is made out of high quality steel and stainless steel while the handle is made from soft iron.
2. The blade material is heated and put into a mold. After that, the blade portion is heated again to make it stronger and more durable.
3. The blade is then sharpened on a grindstone and polished by hand.
4. Two of the blades are then put together by a screw, and a special coating is put on the handle. Lastly, the scissors are tested on a cloth to make sure the blades are sharp.

 

The amount of clothes imported from abroad has increased over the last few years and the production of clothes within Japan has decreased as a result. Due to this, the demand for scissors has also decreased recently.

“While my father was still alive, his favorite thing to say was ‘gratitude’. “Please work everyday with the feeling of gratitude towards the customers and employees. If you do this,  the employees will certainly cooperate and work to their fullest.” I believe this is an important mental attitude for all people”, says Miura.