NOVA
NOVA is a Japanese professional shear brand, one of UTSUMI Corporation's in-house lines, with blades forged from Japanese steel.
Japan
Mid-range
AUS-8
The bottom line
NOVA is a professional hair-scissor brand from Japan, building AUS-8 shears in the mid-range tier.
Compare NOVA with another brand- Origin
- Japan
- Headquarters
- 3-11-17 Shojaku, Settsu City, Osaka 566-0023, Japan
- Steel grades
- AUS-8
- Price tier
- Official site
- utsumi-beauty.com
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
Where to buy NOVA
NOVA is one of UTSUMI Corporation’s own shear lines, created by founder Chimaki Utsumi alongside the company’s U&U range and built in-house at UTSUMI’s Settsu City plant in Osaka. That matters because NOVA isn’t a badge on someone else’s blanks. The blades are forged from Japanese steel using a fire-forging method UTSUMI calls Chaku-ko, then hand-finished, so the brand controls the process from hot metal to final edge.
A range built around length
What stands out about NOVA is how it covers blade length. Rather than a couple of sizes, the line walks up in steps. The NOVA 55 and 60 anchor the short end, the HB and HC families fill out 50, 55, 60, 65, and 70, and the NOVA Slim L stretches all the way to 7.5 and 8.5 inches, with a Slim 85 at the long extreme. Those longer blades aren’t for everyone, but for scissor-over-comb and barbering work, having a true long shear in the same family is genuinely useful.
Left-handed stylists are covered properly here, too, with the NOVA HCL and NOVA Lefty models plus a NOVA Lefty Set bundle. There’s also a NOVA Set for buyers who want a cut-and-thin pairing out of the box.
Steel and price
The published grade is AUS-8, a Japanese stainless that sharpens readily and holds a fair edge — a sensible, serviceable steel rather than an exotic one, which suits the brand’s mid-range pricing of roughly $200 to $400. Any competent sharpener can service it.
Current specs, handle options, and stock live on the official UTSUMI site and the NOVA listings on Scissor Dude. For the rest of Japan’s makers, see the Japan hub.
NOVA FAQ
Is NOVA a Japanese scissor brand?
Yes. NOVA is one of UTSUMI Corporation’s original in-house shear lines, and the blades are made in Japan at the company’s Settsu City facility in Osaka.
What steel do NOVA scissors use?
NOVA forges its blades from AUS-8 Japanese steel, hand-finished using UTSUMI’s Chaku-ko fire-forging method.
How much do NOVA scissors cost?
NOVA sits in the mid-range band, roughly $200 to $400 for a pair, in line with other professional shears made in Japan.
Does NOVA make left-handed scissors?
Yes. The range includes dedicated left-handed models such as the NOVA Lefty and the NOVA HCL Lefty, along with a NOVA Lefty Set bundle.
What models does NOVA offer?
The line spans a wide spread of blade lengths, from the NOVA 55 and 60 through the HB and HC families up to the longer Slim L at 7.5 and 8.5 inches.
Where can I buy NOVA scissors?
You can check current models and stock on the official UTSUMI site, and NOVA shears are also listed on the SCISSOR Dude storefront.
Sources: official NOVA website and authorised retailer listings. Last reviewed June 2026.