Scissors Day (Hasami no Hi)

What Is Scissors Day?

August 3rd is "Hasami no Hi" (Scissors Day) in Japan. It was proposed in 1977 by beautician Aiko Yamano, founder of the Yamano Gakuen group of beauty schools. Modeled after "hari kuyo" (a memorial ritual for sewing needles), it is a day to give thanks for the scissors indispensable to beauty work and to pray for improved skills. Every year on this day, a "hasami kuyo" (scissors memorial service) is held at Zojoji Temple in Shiba, Tokyo.

Why August 3rd?

The date comes from a pun: 8 read as "ha" and 3 read as "sa," forming "ha-sa-mi," the Japanese word for scissors. The service at Zojoji also begins at 3 p.m., in keeping with "ha (8) sa (3) mi (3)."

Zojoji's Scissors Kannon

On the grounds of Zojoji stands the "Seikyo Kannon-zuka," a monument erected on August 3, 1981, with Aiko Yamano as its sponsor. It features a rare statue of Kannon holding scissors to her chest, and beauty school students and hairdressers attend the service bringing scissors they have finished using.

The Idea Behind a "Memorial Ritual"

Japan has long held a cultural tradition of giving thanks to the tools that support daily life through "kuyo" (memorial rituals). "Hari kuyo," in which broken needles are laid to rest in tofu or konnyaku as a gesture of gratitude, is one such example. Since scissors are similarly well used in many professions and in everyday life — especially by hairdressers — a day of gratitude for scissors was proposed in the same spirit.

• What's included: scissors used by hairdressers, as well as many kinds of everyday scissors
• The sentiment behind it: caring for your tools, and a wish to improve your skills
• Another day on the same date: August 3rd is also "Stationery Scissors Day," established by stationery maker PLUS Corporation

Tips for Marking This Day

• Give the scissors you use every day some proper care and maintenance
• Thank a hairdresser or anyone else whose work depends on scissors
• Learn about Japan's tool-memorial traditions, like "hari kuyo"
• Sort through old, worn-out scissors and replace them with new ones

Gratitude for the Small Tool Behind the Act of Cutting

Scissors trim hair, cut fabric, and slice paper — quietly supporting countless moments in our daily lives. Let August 3rd be a day to turn a moment of gratitude toward the scissors you use without a second thought.