Traditional Satsuki and Okubo shears are iconic Japanese gardening and bonsai tools, each designed with unique blade and handle shapes for specific plant care tasks.
Okubo Shears
Also known as Ueki-basami, Okubo shears are considered the heart of the traditional Japanese garden toolkit. They are highly versatile scissors used by professionals and hobbyists alike for everyday pruning, bonsai maintenance, flower arranging, and general garden work.
The Design: They feature large, symmetrical, butterfly-shaped handle loops and do not use a spring mechanism. This allows for a direct, finger-controlled cutting motion, giving you a highly precise "feel".
The Blades: They have straight, strong blades (typically around 150mm to 200mm) that provide plenty of leverage for cutting thicker twigs and small branches (up to roughly 10mm in diameter) without bruising delicate leaves.
Materials: Usually hand-forged from high-carbon steel (like Aogami or Shirogami) for superior edge retention, or rust-resistant stainless steel.
Satsuki Shears
Satsuki shears (often referred to as Azalea Scissors) take their name from the beautiful Satsuki Azalea, which blooms in May. While primarily used for azaleas, they are perfect for pruning and shaping any bonsai or garden tree with intricate, dense canopies.
The Design: Unlike the symmetrical Okubo shears, Satsuki shears have long, slim, needle-like bodies with small, compact handles.
The Blades: The long, thin design allows you to reach deep into thick canopies to snip buds, deadhead, and trim thin branches (up to about 4mm in diameter) without damaging the surrounding foliage.
The Cut: They produce exceptionally clean, precise cuts which promote faster healing of the wood.
