Thread: Confused about Japanese Honing

Hi Jim, you could check up on this but the idea of using the ura on the skin came from Iwasaki, or Mizuochi/ though not heard first hand. I have wondered if there was confusion getting the info to me. I really dont think so. I think the translation I got for the sharpening wakami thread was on, the pic of the ura was correct, so I dont think the question of use was mixed up.

I appreciate your investigating and sharing. Interesting how nuanced a tradition can be.

@JonnyO Pics would be good. Both sides will have a bevel, but the Ura's bevel should be significantly thinner than that of the Omote.[/QUOTE]

I had to borrow some of BigBubba's pics from another thread because my digi cam isnt working well. But I am lucky enough to have the same razor as he. If you notice the hollow ground side of the blade has most of the bevel and hone wear. Just wanted some advice on how to go about finishing the edge.

Originally Posted by JimR

This is not what I have been told by three different barbers.
The Omote, the "flat", non stamped side, is the side you hone, and the side you shave with. The Kanji are on the curved side so you can SEE them when you shave/hone.

Apparently, the honing cants the edge toward your face. The Ura, the "curved" stamped side, is curved IN, so if you shave with it, it's more likely to dig in and cut you (according to Kawaguchi-sensei).

Again, this is just what I've been taught by the barbers here, I have no idea why or how or what. I follow my lessons, and it works for me.

Also, you're right, in my video it really DID look like a steep angle...weird. It's not that steep in the mirror.

Sorry, but I can't agree. Look at the amount of canting towards the writing side. To hone and change the canting would require you to totally cant the edge back the other way. I don't see it sorry. Besides if that was the case why wouldn't they design the razor with a different cant to begin with? personally I find the razor shaves far better with the concave side to the face. The other way just doesn't feel right to me or shave as well.

My original info came off Tosuke's site with him honing the razor.

But like everything else you do what works for you. What else can I say.

Very interesting new thread on the topic here. More food for thought.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Very interesting new thread on the topic here. More food for thought.

Agree and it is indeed getting more interesting.

From the looks of Ura JohnnyO it's hard to imagine using it ura style.

It appears that not only the handle, but even the blade is sculpted. The bevels as they are probably have a lot to do with the shape.

Is it as flat as it appears?

The iwasaki has a thumb rest on the convex side of the razor. I don't know about you guys but if I keep my thumb there my thumb keeps hitting my face if I shave with the convex siide to my face. Maybe I have fat thumbs eh?

Links are in bold for obvious reasons:

Originally Posted by SiRed8

you shave with the omote ( front/flat side/non-stamped ) as can be seen on OLD_SCHOOL's diagram here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post370968

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...n-lengthy.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...zor-works.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ght-razor.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-now-what.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-straight.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-profiles.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...art-names.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ese-razor.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...se-razors.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...7-iwasaki.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...se-razors.html

A Honing Lesson from my barber - Straight Razor Place Forums

Sharpening Wakamisori - Straight Razor Place Forums

JimR's video on Japanese razor honing

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ones-info.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...ese-hones.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...-maruichi.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...le-worker.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...ing-hones.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...-nakayama.html

Contact these guys JimR, KevinT, Lynn, OLD_SCHOOL..they're well versed when it comes to these

Originally Posted by JimR

This is not what I have been told by three different barbers.
The Omote, the "flat", non stamped side, is the side you hone, and the side you shave with. The Kanji are on the curved side so you can SEE them when you shave/hone.

Apparently, the honing cants the edge toward your face. The Ura, the "curved" stamped side, is curved IN, so if you shave with it, it's more likely to dig in and cut you (according to Kawaguchi-sensei).

Again, this is just what I've been taught by the barbers here, I have no idea why or how or what. I follow my lessons, and it works for me.

Also, you're right, in my video it really DID look like a steep angle...weird. It's not that steep in the mirror.

I personally vouch for this because just for kicks i stupidly shaved with the wrong side ( ura/back/stamped ). After that ordeal and still thinking of going ATG on the neck...umm no thank you.

So let me continue to be the devils advocate here.

The razor is made with a cant towards the stamped side but you don't want to shave with that side. You want to shave with the non stamped side which is canted away from you so you hone that side until its canted towards your face.

Well that makes perfect sense to me. But if that was the case why don't they make the thing canted the right way to begin with? Sounds kind of Rube Goldbergish to me.

Interesting I have 4 or 5 vintage Japanese straights and they all have alot of wear to the stamped side but none at all to the non stamped side.