Literally, scissors work. It refers to the work of pruning only with scissors to tune fine branches and to build up the tree form without relying on the tree-wiring technique. Usually, artists use wires to constrict tree buds that are trying to go up, in order to shape the tree form. The method is called ”meosae” (bud constricting). Some artists intentionally avoid ”meosae” in order to bring about a more natural look, and shape the trees only by pruning with scissors. The scissors work is said to bring about the quality of tree branches in accordance with the age of the tree.

translated by Kyodo News