Giving voice to the dying industry of traditional Japanese shears

Despite popularity and demand overseas, the traditional blade industry in Japan is dying. Yuko Nakao says the traditional shears may have only 5-10 years left.

Yuko Nakao, Shokunin Store, receiving “ best sustainable product award" for their nominated product at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Credit: Shokunin Store

Sydney-based Yuko Nakao sells and promotes traditional Japanese crafts with a particular emphasis on garden shears.

It was her Australian husband's reaction to using the Japanese shears for the first time that kicked off her e-commerce, Shokunin Store.

"I will never forget his reaction," Ms Nakao tells SBS Japanese.

The first Japanese shear her landscaper husband used was a "cheaper" version, around 3000 yen ( 33 dollars) explains Ms Nakao.

"He said the shear cuts ten times better than his 120 dollars tool."

"So I told him to have a go with a 10,000 yen shear since these are his tools of the trade."

It wasn't long before the couple visited the artisans behind these traditional shears.

Credit: Shokunin Store

The traditional shears have received positive feedback, not only for its sharpness, but its longevity and sustainability. She receives inquiriess from worldwide, including Russia, Italy and Iraq.

However, despite popularity and demand overseas, the traditional blade industry in Japan is dying, explains Ms Nakao.

With ageing artisans and lack of successors, the traditional shears industry in particular, may only have 5-10 years left, she says.

"We have been doing this for some time now, and suppliers are closing, and orders are taking over a year."

Today, Ms Nakao strongly feels the importance of not just selling these items but communicating to her clients the effort that goes into making these high-quality tools and the reason for their price.

"While people often re-purchase their tools every five years, these last 40 years."

Shokunin Store at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show Credit: Shokunin Store

Ms Nakao says her business went into full gear two years ago with the support of Global Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation that supports women with their micro-business.

Last month, her efforts were rewarded with an award in the Best Sustainable Garden Product category for a pair of gardening shears from Niigata Prefecture's Toyama Hamono, which she nominated at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Ms. Nakao says she is motivated by her strong desire to contribute to the traditional Japanese blade industry and save it from the brink of extinction, to ensure that women's opinions are heard in a male-dominated industry, and to make more people aware of the traditional Japanese shears, which she is proud to share with the rest of the world.

Listen to Ms Nakao's full interview below.

Yuko Nakao (left) with landscape gardener Jason Hodges. Credit: Shokunin Store

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