Thread: Shaving with a Japanese Straight

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Thanks pete -- I saw that one but I'm really interested in seeing how the same guy would shave himself with one of those things. For example if I'm right-handed, I'd do a wtg stroke down my right cheek with the handle pointing at the mirror, but if I want to do a wtg stroke on the left side, my ear would be in the way. Know what I mean? The mechanics don't make sense to me.

Thanks,
Ogie

Nonsense.

To someone who uses an electric razor, watching someone hold a normal straight and use it would evoke the same response.

Like everything else you have to just use it and learn the ropes and it becomes second nature just like a normal straight. I speak from experience and several others here use Japanese Straights too.

Of course there are many who use both sides to shave but that's another story.

Gentlemen, I will weigh in, hoping that I don't stir up too much of a poo storm.

1. Japanese straights are designed to be used with only 1 side against the face--this is the "flat" side. The curved side, with the kanji, is the outside. Why do I know this? See 2--imagine you are going to shave someone else. Pick up the razor in your right hand (Japan is VERY strongly right handed, and people who try to use their left hands have always been trained out of it, until very recently). Hold it out to shave someone else. What side do you see?

Also, the names of the sides. The flat side is the "ura". It is the back, the down side--very clearly stated. Like the sole of the foot. The kanji side is the "omote", which means "face" (Also "mask"), the side you see.

2. Japanese straights are designed to be used by barbers. They are tools for shaving other people.

3. Japanese barbers don't care a spit about "grain", so Japanese razormakers don't give a spit about grain. North to south or east to west stroke is dictated by ease of stroke, given #1.

What all of this means is that people who use one of these to shave themselves are forging their own path...some people have figured out a good way, but it's up to you to find the best way for yourself. There is no one way to do it.

It also explains why my barber kept a western style folding straight instead of his Japanese style straights when he gave me his collection--they're easier to use!!!

Good luck, and may the Schwartz be with you.

Thanks Jim. This is the most helpful response I've seen and was what I was imagining would be the case. It seems like for the left side of the face I'll have to go against the grain so as to continue using the correct side of the blade.

@ bigspendur - was my line of questioning really "nonsense" worthy? I've never handled a fixed blade razor and before I ever used my first straight razor I had a wealth of information at SRP to reference. It saved me a lot of my own discomfort and blood to read the wiki and ask questions so that I'd be better prepared before I started. Because there isn't any information on this topic, I figured I'd ask some questions. Like you said, it's akin to starting over. And this is how I got started. Maybe once I get a few shaves under my belt (I have a JSR on the way) I'll write an article on the topic.

Hi Jim.

I'm sure you're right but my barber is never standing in front of me. He has access to both sides from either direction of the blade. Just because a razor is "made for service" industry has never made sense.

Somewhere online I read an excerpt from a book, where the author marveled at the Japanese sailors effectiveness with their self shaved razor work. I cannot find the source atm.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I have to correct you here Jim, you have things a bit backward. The Kanji side is Ura and the opposite is Omote.

All the razor part names can be found in this thread.

EDIT: @OP, it is actually quite surprising no one has done a video yet, given the number of folks with Japanese straights. I'm camera shy, so that's my excuse, plus the lack of having someone stand there and film me. My wife isn't interested in this hobby that much.

Ahhhh...interesting. I got confused from the sharpening translation I did, when they were sharpening the "ura", they had the flat side up. I guess i got it backwards.

But I still stand firm--the flat side is to the face.

Kevin, I'm not sure what you mean...the barber may have access to all sides of you, but I'm pretty sure you're still in front of him...

Hi Guys;

Jim I was looking at your example 1. reaching out to shave someone; standing behind them or to the side is almost the same as shaving oneself.

I have no source really b u t ; in the western tradition I think it could be argued as well that the original use was not shaving oneself, but was likely done by others. An occidental barber shaving a patron can use; perhaps even need to use both faces of the tool. I'm hoping to show there is nothing unique to shaving another vs. self shaving that would give rise to a more specialized tool.

I have always found; the flat side, the wedge side, the curved side, etc. descriptions to be extremely confusing. As none of these actually fit as I see it.

I began with incomplete information, at that time it seemed the more comfortable shave was with the stamped ura against the face. So that is the way I continued. However, one sidedness is not always easy to do. Using the omote against the face is often equal or better after some practice sharpening and using. (the opposite can be equally true depending on grain and direction)

The sharpening instructions increased my doubts on which face is which. My communication with the guy I purchased Iwasaki from could have been more complete. But at the time it seemed to confirm the ura was on the face, which made sense on why it is the ura and the other omote, regardless of stamp.

You and OS have Japanese barbers. Gents who should know beyond doubt which is which and what is right. I find in use, when the razor is sharpy sharp that both sides work.

It would certainly help to have this most basic element cleared up, which side to use, and to let further descriptions adopt the correct Japanese terminology rather than relying on inaccurate comparative terms like wedge and hollow.

Kevin, you're absolutely right. It's just too confusing. This weekend I plan to visit my legendary barber. He agreed to give me a honing lesson, and I'll ask for some shaving tips as well...I will of course post any information I receive.

I ALSO have a lead on an old Japanese barber manual with razor honing info written by none other than Iwasaki-san himself...More on that later.

Last week I came across a youtube video of someone shaving with a japanese straight. There are probably more. The video gave me some useful ideas for regular straight razor shaving.

I'll be trying a japanese straight in 1 or 2 weeks.

The traditional Japanese Straight was being used long before western style straights were introduced into Japan. Very few Japanese in the old days went to barbers for shaves the same as most westerners. Most shaved themselves.

Its like I have always said when we come across something that seems alien to us we try and think of some complicated reason to explain it instead of just accepting the obvious. In this case the obvious is they learned to use the straight the same way we learn to use a Western Straight.