Independent Japanese Shear Intel

I’m Kenji Thompson—20 years behind the chair and on the floor—sharing the facts Australian stylists need without the sales pitch.

Trusted by Australian pros

“Kenji’s steel library and maintenance logs helped us standardise kits across four chairs.” — Sasha, Melbourne salon lead

700+

Stylists using the maintenance cadence templates

5★

Average rating from in-salon ergonomic workshops

12

Japanese brands covered with unbiased dossiers

After two decades cutting in Sydney and Melbourne, I built JapanShears.com.au so you can make confident, career-safe tool choices. Every article breaks down steel grades, edge geometry, and ergonomic fit in plain language you can act on during tomorrow’s appointments.

You’ll see Japanese-source citations, maintenance logs, and sharpening data woven through the site. The aim is simple: independent guidance that keeps Australian stylists and barbers working pain-free while stretching every sharpening cycle.

Why pros trust this desk

  • 20+ years on salon floors and behind barber chairs
  • No affiliates, no sponsored posts—just research and field testing
  • Australian pricing, climate, and sharpening network baked in
  • Kenji’s playbooks you can apply before the next client

Start with the pillar guides

Four playbooks covering buying decisions, care, technique, and wellness—all written from the floor, not a sales desk.

Buyer’s Guide

Map value, professional, and premium tiers to your technique and budget before you invest.

Read the framework

Maintenance Mastery

Lock in daily rituals, sharpening cadence, and technician vetting so every edge stays true.

Lock in maintenance

Advanced Techniques

Slide, point, and scissor-over-comb drills with tooling notes and practice ladders.

Sharpen your technique

Stylist Wellness

Ergonomics, RSI prevention, stretching, and ROI tracking to keep you behind the chair.

Protect your body

Three ways to use this site

Brand Dossiers

Unbiased breakdowns of Japan’s 12 core professional makers—heritage, metallurgy, flagship models, and who each tier truly serves in the Australian market.

Explore brand profiles

Tool Fit Checks

Handle design, steel, and blade geometry explained so you can match shears to technique, volume, and spend without guesswork or buyer’s remorse.

Read tool profiles

Technique & Wellness

Weekly digests of precision cutting drills, maintenance rituals, and hand-health protocols tuned for Australian humidity, workloads, and salon realities.

Browse the knowledge hub

Need a second set of eyes on your kit?

Send through your current set-up, pain points, and budget. I’ll point you to the guides, upgrade paths, or sharpening pros that fit—no fluff, just the next move.