Thread: Japanese style razor benefits?

I am just wondering if Japanese style razors have any benefits over western style folding style razors. I know there are lots of people who love them. I was just wanting to know if there was an advantageous reason for that.

IME using a true Kamisori

I think that they are the Sharpest edges out there, even sharper than my beloved NY extreme hollows, this is good and bad, as they need a super light touch, and for me a ton of concentration to wield...

They allow me to work around my facial hair and to line and trim perfectly down to single hairs, a very exacting razor..
They are harder to hone if they need a bevel, yet way easier to maintain if the razor is up and running..
Because they require such a light touch, I have NEVER had any irritation with a Kamisori shave.

Now all I have said would not be true if you do not sharpen these to their full potential

They also are simplicity in its purest form

Glen summed it up, the thinnest edge due to the geometry of the razor, you will find.

I know what razor I'll be looking to get next then. I know there's a specific sub forum for it but I'll ask here because it's on subject; any tips for honing one?

There are many ways to hone them however whatever way you do it you have to maintain the geometry of the blade so it means unequal amounts of strokes from one side to the other. Also if you need much more than a touchup, unlike a western razor you need to use pressure and knowing how much to use at what stage of the honing process is the true art in honing these things. Lastly, it very easy to really mess up one of these blades if you don't know what you are doing and unlike western blades where you can always undo the damage once you reach a certain point with a Kamisori you're in deep trouble.