Okatsune
Bypass pruners and garden shears - Izumo Yasugi steel with proprietary industrial hardening, Rockwell hardness 60-61
Philosophy
Simplicity, sturdiness, sharpness. Okatsune's design reduces the number of parts to a minimum for maximum reliability. The red and white handles - colors of good fortune in Japan - have become iconic in gardens worldwide.
History
Hiroshima, 1940s. Tsuneichi Okano, blacksmith apprentice since 1925, founds Okatsune. Izumo Yasugi steel - same as katanas. Proprietary hardening: Rockwell 60-61, unmatched. Minimalist design, red and white handles. Among enthusiasts, Felco vs Okatsune debate weekly. Consensus: Okatsune for the cut, Felco for service and spare parts. 2025: 100 years. Katana steel in a garden tool.
Iconic Products
Okatsune 103
Versatile bypass pruner. Japan's best-seller. Izumo Yasugi steel, Rockwell 60-61. Clean, effortless cut, branch after branch. The pruner enthusiasts recommends to those tired of their Fiskars.
Okatsune 104
The 103 for smaller hands. Same steel, same edge, reduced size. For gardeners who find the 103 too large. Same cut quality in a more accessible format.
Okatsune 217 (cisaille de haie)
Short hedge shear. Yasugi steel blades, the characteristic 'singing' of perfectly aligned blades. When you hear the sound of these shears, you understand the difference between a tool and an instrument. The garden equivalent of a Japanese knife.