Kouho
Kouho is a Japanese scissor maker founded in 1964 in Osaka, producing professional cutting, thinning, and left-handed shears for salons.
Japan
Premium
Est. 1964
Cobalt AlloySintered Steel
The bottom line
Kouho is a professional hair-scissor brand from Japan, founded in 1964, building Cobalt Alloy, Sintered Steel shears in the premium range.
Compare Kouho with another brand- Origin
- Japan
- Founded
- 1964
- Headquarters
- 本 社・大阪ショールーム 540-0004 大阪市中央区玉造 2丁目 28-6 七條ビル3F TEL : 06-6766-7321 FAX :06-6766-7161
- Steel grades
- Cobalt Alloy, Sintered Steel
- Price tier
- Product range
- Cutting Scissors, Thinning Scissors, Left-Handed Scissors
- Official site
- kouho.co.jp
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
Where to buy Kouho
Kouho came at scissors sideways. The Osaka company (株式会社光邦) opened in 1964 as a small shop selling hair cosmetics and hair-growth products to the salon trade, and only began manufacturing its own professional shears in 1969. Incorporation followed in 1977, by which point the firm was also running a salon of its own and developing beauty instruments. That long apprenticeship inside the salon world, rather than purely on the factory floor, is part of what shaped the line.
The range
The catalogue covers cutting shears, thinning shears, and a left-handed line, with models named in Kouho’s terse style: Arx, Kx, X, the X Wing Cobalt and its DLC-coated sibling, and the ZXT thinner. The listed techniques run wide, from blunt, point, and slide cutting to blend work, texture control, graduated and freehand cutting, and a three-step thinning system. It is a range built for stylists who switch methods through a single head rather than reaching for one trick.
Steel and standing
Kouho works in cobalt alloy and sintered powder steel across its lines, which puts it firmly in the high-end Japanese bracket. Pricing reflects that, sitting in the luxury band of roughly 800 dollars and up. The company is headquartered in Chuo-ku, Osaka with a showroom on site, and over the years added a Tokyo showroom in Shibuya and a sales base in Shinsaibashi. Internationally the shears reach buyers through Precision Shears, Shear World, tricut.com, and Scissors Shop Hayashi, with direct sales via hasami-pro.com. For more makers from this region, see our Japan hub.
Kouho in the catalogue
A snapshot of Kouho models stocked by authorised retailers. Finishes, lengths and steel vary by series — confirm the exact specification before buying.
Kouho FAQ
Is Kouho a Japanese scissor brand?
Yes. Kouho is a Japanese maker founded in 1964 and based in Osaka, trading as Kouho Co., Ltd. (株式会社光邦). Its shears are made in Japan.
When did Kouho start making scissors?
The company began in 1964 selling hair cosmetics for the salon trade, and started manufacturing professional hair scissors in 1969 before incorporating in 1977.
What kind of scissors does Kouho make?
Kouho produces cutting shears, thinning shears, and a left-handed line, with models built around techniques such as blunt cutting, point cutting, slide cutting, and three-step thinning.
Does Kouho make left-handed scissors?
Yes. Left-handed shears are a standing part of the Kouho range alongside the right-handed cutting and thinning models.
What steel does Kouho use?
Kouho works in cobalt alloy and sintered powder steel across its lines.
How much do Kouho scissors cost?
Kouho sits in the luxury band, roughly $800 and up, in line with high-end Japanese professional shears.
Sources: official Kouho website and authorised retailer listings. Last reviewed June 2026.