Sakai City’s World-Renowned Leading Cutting Tool Manufacturer

You may have seen the letters ‘ARS’ along with a striking red crocodile mascot in the gardening or crafts section of a DIY store. From scissors to saws, these high-quality products come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all crafted by Sakai City’s leading cutting tool manufacturer, ARS Corporation.  

Upon visiting their headquarters, we were greeted by Executive Director Mr. Keiichi Takigawa (center of the photo), Mr. Hiroaki Kato (right in the photo), and Mr. Takashi Matsumoto (left in the photo) both from the Planning Department.

“Our company began in Sakai back in 1876 as a manufacturer of tobacco knives used to cut tobacco leaves, which are considered the origin of Sakai knives. During the Edo Period, our tobacco knives gained popularity for their sharpness and durability as tobacco use increased among the populace, earning such a reputation that the shogunate decided to sell them nationwide, engraved with the ‘Sakai Kiwame’ mark.” (Mr. Takigawa)

A Diverse Range of Products from Gardening to Industrial Use

“In this town of blades, we’ve harnessed over 140 years of manufacturing expertise to become the professional cutting tool manufacturer that we are today. We take pride in offering a broad selection of products, from gardening scissors and saws to various cutting tools for daily use. We also manufacture and market industrial mechanical blades, while also providing after-sales service for these blades.” (Mr. Kato)

As he mentioned, a wide range of cutting tools is on display at the company headquarters, from home-use to professional-grade. While scissors may all appear similar at first glance, you will find that some have curved blade tips and are crafted in different sizes and materials tailored to various purposes to meet the specific needs of customers. 

ARS Corporation was also the first in Japan to launch the ‘Takaeda Basami’, designed for cutting branches that are out of reach. Its grip was inspired by bicycle handles, which makes sense, considering that Sakai is a city renowned for both its blade and bicycle industries. In addition, the crocodile logo is based on a blade, featuring an open pruning scissor for a mouth, and a saw-blade like jagged back. This logo has made these ARS cutting tools a favorite among farmers and gardeners, who recognize them as ‘The Blades with the Crocodile Mark’.

Faithful Replication of Craftsman’s Skills with Machinery

“One of our distinctive traits is that we have made it possible for machines to produce products of equal quality to those handmade by traditional craftsmen. We focus on cost reduction through mass production while also maintaining consistent product quality and improvement.” (Mr. Matsumoto)

ARS Corporation developed unique machinery to industrialize the delicate techniques of craftsmen. While machines achieve an exceptionally high precision, delicate tasks such as ‘yakiire’ (quenching) and ‘kenma’ (polishing) are done by hand to pursue a sharpness that relies on human intuition, rather than just measurable data. 

Created in such a way, their scissors offer excellent sharpness that cuts cleanly and effortlessly, making them also suitable for delicate work. The carefully quenched blade is extremely durable, allowing the sharpness to last even after prolonged use.

“Our products may be slightly more expensive compared to other manufacturers, but in the long run, I believe they are worth it.” (Mr. Matsumoto)

Sharpness and Design in Harmony

Certified for this edition’s Sakai Kitchen Selection from numerous products is ‘iDChoki’. It offers rust-resistant stainless types even around the sink, as well as craft (multi-purpose) types perfect for harvesting herbs. Choose from seven different blade tips with varying levels of sharpness depending on the purpose. Grip colors can also be customized, with 20 different colors available, allowing for different colors on each side, meaning a surprising total of 210 possible combinations! A special website lets you see the finished image before purchase.

“While we have primarily focused on professional products, this new idea was born from our wish for everyone to experience professional sharpness in their kitchens. Scissors for professional use are sharp but often have a standardized design, whereas design-oriented scissors tend to lack sharpness. We hope you enjoy experimenting with the color combinations to create your very own unique pair of scissors that you will cherish for a lifetime.” (Mr. Takigawa)

Edit&Test Tomoyo Tsuchiya
Photographer Yutaka Sato

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