Thread: Japanese razor advice

Or is the razor supposed to be used by both?

I think I 've seen pics of a lefty but most are right handed AFAIK.

If you look at their site you will find it under custom razors. Can some one please tell me whether that is a right or left-handed Kamisori? Thank you

It is right handed

Now keep this in mind before it screws ya all up...

That means for a Right handed barber These razors are made for barber's to use, you have to learn very CAREFULLY how to use it on your face...

This is one of the reasons I personally think they have to be sooooo sharp otherwise you start applying pressure and pressure with these is normally a bad thing...
They need to glide barely even touching the skin during the shave... That of course is JMHO and a bit of experience thrown in...

Glen, truer words were never spoken.

NO PRESSURE.

Like a feather, is how these things should go on your face.

Senoreme, left handed Kamisori are very rare, and I haven't heard of ANY from Iwasaki. They tend to be order-made for specific customers, as I understand it.

Originally Posted by darkraijin

tamahangane vs iwasaki


I've did some reading on the fourm reading tamahangane as the best of Japanese razors.
But found one on ebay used.
Questions)
1) Between the 2 what would be prefered. Personal or as razor companies.
2) to horn these myself what type of stones would I need. The store guy stuggested 12000. Just put water and slide away.
3) horn is done just as Euro razors.
4) time limit or no. of strokes.
5) 50mm length vs 60mm length.

Iwasaki is cheaper and is new. While Tamahagane is used and well price is well over 500. I've extended the guy an offer on ebay but now have heard back.
Advice opinions all welcome.
~Raijin.

darkrajin;
Maybe your questions have been answered.
1. Both are very fine, what do you want to spend?
2. Careful honing kamisoris or you may ruin razor profile.
3. Kamisoris are not honed like western razors.
4. Hone stroke ratios may vary depending on razor condition. 7:1 maybe 12:1
5. The size of razor depends on your preference and final cost.
Attached are Iwasaki’s kamisori razors. The top is the Mizuochi-san razor which is the Swedish steel laminate. He is a Master blade smith not an apprentice. The lower is an Iwasaki-san razor made of tamahagane steel. There is an additional stamp on the Tamahagane steel which identifies it.
These are my razors and are both excellent to shave with. Due to the blade profile they require special care when honing. I can guarantee you that nothing but the finest natural stones touch these blades. If you purchase an Iwasaki razor or any kamisori off of EBay, I would advise you to have it checked and honed professionally so you can see what it is capable of. Hope this is some help.
MIke:

Originally Posted by gssixgun

It is right handed

Now keep this in mind before it screws ya all up...

That means for a Right handed barber These razors are made for barber's to use, you have to learn very CAREFULLY how to use it on your face...

This is one of the reasons I personally think they have to be sooooo sharp otherwise you start applying pressure and pressure with these is normally a bad thing...
They need to glide barely even touching the skin during the shave... That of course is JMHO and a bit of experience thrown in...

So how did the typical Japanese shave? Did they all go to barbers or maybe use an electric themselves back in the 1800s?

That's an interesting question & my WAG is because the Japanese have so little facial hair it is almost a moot point. You see very few clean shaven faces in old Japanese art.
Shaving the head for monks & the top of the head for samurai would be more common & that would be easier if someone else did it be it a barber or not.

I think this whole thing is so alien to most of us in the West we invent answers when the true answer is as plain as the whiskers on your face. Of course they used these to shave with. It's no different than if someone here saw a western straight for the first time and you told them it was a razor and they would look at you like you were crazy and probably say "you mean you really shave with those"

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think this whole thing is so alien to most of us in the West we invent answers when the true answer is as plain as the whiskers on your face. Of course they used these to shave with. It's no different than if someone here saw a western straight for the first time and you told them it was a razor and they would look at you like you were crazy and probably say "you mean you really shave with those"

Actually, according to the founder of "Kamisori club" and shaving historian Yasuoki Takeuchi, (who's written a book on the history of shaving in Japan), No, they didn't. Prior to the opening of Japan to Western influence during the Meiji Restoration, it was not common practice to shave in Japan. Up until the 18th century only Buddhist priests really shaved, and then only their heads/parts of their heads, and that would have been done by someone else. For those outside the priesthood who did control their hair (for example the samurai with their half-shaved heads), they used tweezers to pluck the hair as the razors at the time were much too expensive.

Also, from the time of the Warring states period until the Meiji period, beards were a symbol of strength and authority so there was little shaving done. With Meiji, Japan opened its borders to Western goods and the huge influx of German goods in particular crowded out lots of domestic products (Solingen razors are still famous and well-regarded here) so any shaving done was done with cheaper Western style razors. But shaving was still unpopular until after WWII, when corporations began demanding clean-cut images--and you had Gillette and Schick selling safety razors on the market.

So no, there was no period in history when most people in Japan, in general, shaved themselves with Wakamisori. There were certainly individuals who did so, especially in the military I hear, but it was not a widespread practice I understand.

And there you go.