Thread: Japanese razor advice

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

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

I hazve been told by my Japanese friend that there used to be another kind of kamisori double sided for self shave. I wish there were some pics available to see what it looked like.

Well if that was the case there would be way more of those than the ones we have so what happened to all of them and why would current makers make the "wrong" razor for sale?

When I got my first Tosuke it was sent by a friend in Japan (who is native Japanese) and he just said it was a traditional razor we used many years ago but no one has used them for a long time.

I totally agree with Glen and Nelson.

Japanese razors are tricksy little things to hone and feel totally different to a western razor. They are also totally different to shave with and really do take some time to get comfortable with. I definately wouldnt recommend a new guy buying one of these off eBay and then trying to hone it for his first razor..! Down that road lies frustration and bloodshed.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I hazve been told by my Japanese friend that there used to be another kind of kamisori double sided for self shave. I wish there were some pics available to see what it looked like.

I would bet good money he's talking about DE razors. The word in Japanese is still Kamisori, and the word for "double edged" would be the same as "double sided."

I would imagine if they wanted to shave themselves they did just as we do now, which is figure the darn thing out without cutting the crap outta yourself...

I read that the difference with the "Right handed razor " and "Left handed razor" was in relation to how a barber held it, that was all... Not whether they were only used by barbers...

Heck I am still trying to figure out why the front and back are backward anyway LMAO ...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I would imagine if they wanted to shave themselves they did just as we do now, which is figure the darn thing out without cutting the crap outta yourself...

I read that the difference with the "Right handed razor " and "Left handed razor" was in relation to how a barber held it, that was all... Not whether they were only used by barbers...

Heck I am still trying to figure out why the front and back are backward anyway LMAO ...

Backwards? Why what ever gave you that idea?

I have been doing allot of research on these and Tamahagane steel. The work, effort and man hours in Tamahagane steel is tremendous. Studies show that modern steel out performs Tamahagane. Not by much but it does. The aesthetics of Tamahagane can not be matched. This is comparing to Katana and not razors. When German steel reached Japan it crushed local smiths as everyone bought German Solingen steel. It was much cheaper and performed just as good. Modern Tamahagane is still made today at the Hitachi plant during the winter months influenced by old method. Almost all the modern Tamahagane is allocated to local sword smiths. By law sword smiths can only make 2 Katana a month. Its the vintage 70's Tamahagane that's desirable and I believe that's what the current Iwasaki Tamahagane's are made with and not modern Tamahagane. If you want Tamahagane you are paying for the tradition and craft that goes into these. Which is very cool and a complete art. Performance wise your not going to lose either way. I would go with the Swedish steel IMHO.

Tamahagane is not that special as far as steel goes, it has gotten sort of a mythical status because of katana , it is also rare which drives prices up. What makes Tamahagane so good is the heat treat and mastership of the blacksmith, but that is true for any steel.If Iwasaki use Swedish steel for their razors then it must be a really good steel.

thanks to all the feedback. Been a while since i posted this up. I will def. consider swedish steel. Jpns import a lot of things... including mineral water frm Scot's to make their own whiskey. All cultural stuff aside. Just dropped out of trying to procure a Jpns razor atm. Got a Bartmann among few others. For now trying to enjoy western razors and finally starting a restoration project with 9/8 geo salvage. But a lot of good 'good to knows' ... my sensie cannot speak highly of tamaghangne steel as he has few katanas. He does katorie shinto ryu. Swords are not my thing. More of empty hand kind of guy.