[Kanetaka] Right-Handed Ikenobo Shears 165mm (6.5") Aogami No.2 [KNT010202]

Precision Through the Density

About the Kanetaka Ikenobo Shears Series

Kanetaka's shop and workshop stand directly across from the head family of Ikenobo, the founding school of Japanese flower arrangement. For over 200 years, the house has worked alongside Ikenobo practitioners, and that accumulated experience shows most clearly in the sharpening. The cross-sectional shape of the blade, and above all the precision of the cutting edge itself, reflect a level of finishing that comes only from generations spent sharpening for ikebana. Even today, the workshop keeps sharpening specialists dedicated solely to this work. The forging, too, is solid and dependable throughout.

The Ikenobo Shears series comes in three sizes: 180mm and 165mm, both with long, Aogami No.2 blades, and a 107mm pocket version in Shirogami No.2. The 180mm and 165mm share the same design; the difference is simply which size sits better in your hand and suits the scale of your work.

About [Kanetaka] Right-Handed Ikenobo Shears 165mm (6.5") Aogami No.2

At 165mm, this is the shorter of the two long-edge sizes, built for work centered on finer, more delicate stems. Ikebana arrangements often involve dense clusters of overlapping stems and leaves. A difference of just 15mm in overall length makes it noticeably easier to slip the blade into these tight spaces, and gives your hand more freedom to move once inside them. This size suits practitioners who value that small-circle agility over raw cutting power.

The blade is Aogami No.2 (Blue Paper Steel), chosen for its edge retention. Every step, from forging to sharpening, is finished entirely by hand.

How to Maintain Your Kanetaka Ikenobo Shears

Does it rust easily?
As a high-carbon steel, it can rust if left unattended. Since ikebana work involves cutting wet stems, wipe the blade dry after each use rather than leaving it damp.

What if the edge starts to dull?
Sharpen it with a whetstone.

Any tips for making it last?
Applying edged tool oil will help it last longer.

About Kanetaka: A Kyoto Blacksmith with 350 Years of History

Kanetaka is a Kyoto blacksmith with a history spanning more than 350 years. By recorded lineage alone, it stands as a long-established house of seven generations, over 200 years.

The shop and workshop sit directly in front of the head family of Ikenobo, the founding school of Japanese flower arrangement. It is a blacksmith rooted in the same soil that has shaped Kyoto's tradition of flower arrangement.

Today, the eldest son, Kazuhiro Yamada, carries on the sharpening technique, while the second son, Yoshitaka Yamada, works as the blacksmith. Each brother handles a different stage of the process, and together they bring a single pair of shears to completion.

Alongside traditional items such as Japanese razors and Ikenobo scissors, made using techniques learned from specialists, Kanetaka also produces a range of idea goods, including herb clips, pencil sharpeners, and reed knives for wind instruments, building on traditional craftsmanship to create a broad range of tools.

Notes on use

Important: These shears are made of high-carbon steel, not stainless steel. They cut extremely well, but are prone to rust if not cared for.
Wipe the blade dry after each use, especially after cutting wet stems.
Do not use on floral wire or kenzan (flower frog) pins; this will chip the edge.
Dropping the shears can cause the blade to chip.
For right-handed use.
Store out of the reach of children.