The nail clippers born from the craftsmanship of Tsubame-Sanjo artisans. SUWADA's secret to healthy nails: "Cut, don't crack."

Have you ever stopped to think about what nails are actually for?

Nails do protect the tips of our fingers and toes, but they also play a crucial role in transferring force from our fingertips whenever we hold or manipulate something. Toenails, meanwhile, help support our body weight as we walk, assisting with the motion of pushing off with each step. Apparently, without nails, we wouldn't be able to apply force properly, and our movements would be hindered.

This time, we're featuring a tool that helps keep nails healthy: nail clippers. We'll be sharing our impressions of using SUWADA's nipper-style nail clippers.

Suwada Seisakusho: over 90 years dedicated to the art of "cutting"

SUWADA is a brand crafted by Suwada Seisakusho, a bladesmith based in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, with a history dating back to Taisho 15 (1926). The company originally manufactured a tool called "kuikiri," a precursor to the nipper used for cutting off the heads of nails. In 1950, they began making nail clippers as well, since the cutting motion—bringing two blades together—was essentially the same. Through years of continued research since then, they arrived at their nipper-style nail clippers, which have earned high acclaim and numerous awards.

The material used in SUWADA's CLASSIC series, their standard line of nail clippers, is a domestically produced "high-carbon stainless steel." Though the name may be unfamiliar, this steel is known for its minimal blade wear and strong resistance to rust.

Looking closely at the surface, you'll notice a finish called "hairline finishing," where fine lines resembling strands of hair are etched in a consistent direction. This makes dirt and scratches less noticeable—an important detail for something meant to be used and cherished for years to come.

When pursuing this level of quality in craftsmanship, you can't rely on machines alone. At every stage of production, artisans carefully inspect and hand-finish the work before passing it on to the next step—a relay driven by a shared desire to deliver something truly excellent.

When most people think of "nail clippers," they picture the lever-type variety, where the upper and lower blades meet to cut the nail. Because the two blades don't open very wide, there's a certain safety to this design, but since there's no side clearance on the blades, it can be tricky to position them at an angle to catch the nail properly. And rather than feeling like you're truly "cutting," it often feels more like you're "cracking" the nail—which can be a bit unsettling.

So how does this differ from that lever-type nail clipper? Let's try it out for ourselves.

Trying out SUWADA's nipper-style nail clippers

We tried out SUWADA's nipper-style nail clippers, the CLASSIC. The sizes we're featuring here at ZUTTO are S and L.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when cutting your nails.

① Cut in a square shape

② Don't cut too short

Let's go through each of these in detail.

① Cut in a square shape

Do you tend to cut your nails in a rounded curve, following the shape of your fingertip? A great many people cut their nails this way, but it turns out this isn't actually good for your nails.

The correct approach is what's called a "square cut," where the corners of the nail are left flat rather than rounded off. This helps prevent ingrown nails. (An ingrown nail occurs when the edge of the nail curves and digs into the surrounding flesh, causing inflammation and infection. This can even lead to changes in the way you walk due to pain, and poor posture as a result.)

② Don't cut too short (the ideal length leaves the flesh of the fingertip just barely covered by the nail)

Nails apparently have a natural tendency to curl inward. Normally, though, when we walk or grip something, force is applied from the pad of the finger, and the nail absorbs that force, which is why nails tend to grow straight. But if you cut your nails so short that the flesh of the fingertip is exposed, there's no nail left to absorb that force when pressure is applied—causing the nail to curl, or making it harder to apply the right amount of force for delicate tasks.

With these two points in mind, let's start by cutting our fingernails.

Cutting with SUWADA's nipper-style nail clippers, we found the nails came away easily—almost surprisingly little force was needed. Because the blades can properly grip even a small section of nail, you can cut in small increments, which seems to place less strain on the nail with each cut.

Compared to the lever type, the blades open much wider, and they're also curved to follow the shape of the nail, allowing you to advance the blade smoothly. Rather than cracking the nail, you're shaving it away cleanly, so even when applying pressure, there's no unpleasant grinding sensation—you can really feel that it's gentler on the nail.

Since the blade curves rather than running in a straight line, it also made trimming hangnails very easy.

Next, let's try cutting our toenails.

With a standard lever-type nail clipper, it can be quite a struggle just to get the blades around a big toenail—but SUWADA's nipper type opens so wide that it makes cutting much easier!

Ingrown nails happen most often on the toes, and even for those who already have an ingrown toenail, the nipper-style clippers allow for more precise, incremental cutting, making them a better choice than the lever type.

They're easy to use even for people with thick nails or ingrown nails, which makes it easy to understand why professionals like nail technicians and nurses swear by them.

When closed, the blades meet perfectly, without the slightest gap. You can really feel how the artisans' skill translates into ease of use.

Sizes come in S and L. How much difference does it make?

The S size fits comfortably in a woman's hand without any strain, making it easy to grip. Women can of course use the L size too, but the S size is the one you can use without worrying about dropping it.

If you'll mainly be cutting your toenails, or if a man will be using it, the L size is recommended.

If a family plans to share the same nail clipper, the L size is probably better, but for hygiene reasons, it's best not to share too much.

The gift set comes with a leather case. It's also a popular choice for wedding and housewarming gifts.

Caring for your nail clipper

◼Wipe it down after use.

No special maintenance is required, but to prevent rust, please wipe it with a soft cloth after each use. (Leaving nail clippings or fine debris on the blades isn't good for hygiene either.)

SUWADA's CLASSIC nail clipper has blades that open wide, making it easy to clear away any debris.

◼Store it in its dedicated case.

Whether you purchase it individually or as part of a gift set, a dedicated case is included, so please keep it in the case when not in use. This helps prevent accidental injury from dropping it, as well as chipping of the blades.

◼If it starts cutting poorly, send it in for maintenance.

The manufacturer offers paid maintenance service. Since the craftsman who made the clipper can also handle the maintenance, you can use it with peace of mind. Please contact ZUTTO Customer Support first.

【ZUTTO Customer Support】

E-MAIL：support_store@zutto.co.jp

TEL：0120-255-807