The Japanese Straight Razor - Kamisori

What is a Kamisori?

A Kamisori (日本剃刀) is a traditional Japanese straight razor that is used for shaving. It is a single-edged razor that is handcrafted by skilled artisans using traditional techniques. The blade is usually made from two layers of iron: high carbon steel (Hagane) and wrought iron (Jigane). The combination of these materials creates a blade that is both sharp and durable. The layer of Jigane has a number of advantages: - The steel can not harden in the quenching process because it has not enough carbon included, as a result the Jigane stays flexible and soft. When honing a Kamisori this has another advantage, the Omote Side ( the side without engravings) is honed more than the Ura side (the side with engravings) resulting in an easier honing process ( please note, when the Kamisori is already very very sharp, you would hone in a 1:1 ratio, only when the razor needs more honing you will do more strokes on the Omote side) 

The handle is typically wrapped with rattan, cotton, leather or silk thread, and sometimes covered with urushi lacquer to provide a comfortable grip during use.

Kamisoris traditionally have a asymetrical grind. Which needs some getting used to it, as the angles on Omote or Ura side for the perfect shave are a bit different. 

How to take care of your Kamisori

Kamisoris are made of High Carbon steels and wrought Iron, Both are not stainless, which means that if kept in a wet place they will rust, which may destroy your razor.

To avoid this, please take care for your Kamisori razor. We recommend wiping it clean and dry with a soft towel or fabric after each use and storing it in a dry place and add some non-resinous oil (i.e. camellia oil). Stropping it on a leatherstrop before each use is mandatory and will keep it shave ready for a long time. After a while you may wanna hone it a bit on a very fine waterstone, we are talking about over 10,000 grit. Please contact us if you are unsure what to do, we are happy to help.