DOWA

DOWA has a foot in two countries, which is unusual and worth understanding before you place it. Run by Dowa International Ltd. with offices in both London and Tokyo, the brand has sold its PASSION shears since 1980. The London side also serves as the official UK importer for YS Park tools, so this is as much a distribution house with deep trade roots as it is a scissor maker.

Steel and range

DOWA works mostly in ATS-314, a cobalt-bearing stainless that’s long been a favourite among Japanese makers for the way it holds a fine, durable edge. There’s also a Damascus line, the patterned, layered steel built around an ATS-314 cobalt core for those who want the look as well as the performance. The cutting and thinning shears are pitched at blunt cutting, volume control, and texture work, and the whole line sits in the mid-range band, roughly $200 to $400 a pair.

The service angle

Two things set DOWA apart from a typical importer. First, the London office runs a sharpening operation it describes as among the leading ones in Europe, with long-standing UK and international clients, which is a genuine draw if you want your edge maintained by people who know the steel. Second, the company shows up in person at events like Salon International in London and Cosmoprof in Bologna, so you can handle the shears before buying.

Where to buy

DOWA sells through two official channels, the HIEN online store and the Hasami House storefront on Rakuten, and runs its own site at dowa-international.com. The London office handles UK and European supply; Tokyo covers Japan.