Best Kamisori Razor – Japanese Straight Razors

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Like in many countries, men in Japan have been shaving for a long time. Japan is famous for making exquisite steel swords, spears, and cutting tools, including some of the best straight razors in different forms. Over the eons, the Japanese straight razor has taken different shapes before settling on its current shape – the Kamisori.

What is a Kamisori Razor?

If you love a close shave, you are familiar with the western version of straight razors, such as the Dovo Bismarck. They have a long and thin razor that folds into a handle carved from different materials, including metal, bone, or wood.

Kamisori vs Straight Razor

You’ve probably never given this a thought, but western style (think Brands like DOVO, Boker, Thiers Issard) straight razors have symmetrical hollow grinds. This means that both sides of the razor taper inward towards the sharp blade’s edge. The grind comes in different grades ranging from an extra hollow to a true wedge.

However, a Japanese Kamisori straight razor is asymmetrical, and they are hollow on one side and have a true wedge on the other side. Because of the design, the Kamisori straight razors are either right or left-handed. Moreover, Kamisori blades don’t fold into handles, and instead, they have a traditional handle covered in rubber or twine for a better grip.

One side of the Kamisori is made of hard steel, and the other is soft iron. The steel forms the cutting edge, and the iron acts as the steel’s base. Since Iron is soft, it’s thicker to withstand honing. The steel portion (called Ura) needs regular sharpening, and the iron portion (called Omote) is unground.

If you are left-handed, you’ll need a Kamisori with an Ura favoring the left side (same case for the right-handed shavers). But more and more Kamisori designs are emerging that can be honed on both sides.

Best Japanese Straight Razor at a Glance

	Brand/ Model	Highlights	Where to Get
	Classic Kamisori Iwasaki Kamisori Japanese Razor Click on the product name to jump to our short review	Symmetrical hollow grind Paulownia wooden box	Check Price
	Designed for Professionals Osami Mizuike razor Click on the product name to jump to our short review	Symmetrical hollow grind Quality carbon steel	Check Price
	Easy to Use & Maintain Feather Artist Club DX Japanese Razor Click on the product name to jump to our short review	Steel construction Easy blade replacement	Check Price
	Ideal for Professionals Feather Artist Club SR Japanese Razor Click on the product name to jump to our short review	Ideal for thick beards Easy to assemble or disassemble	Check Price
	Best Budget Japanese Straight Razor Facón Professional Standard Japanese Razor Click on the product name to jump to our short review	Comes with 100 single edge blades Easy to install and replace blades	Check Price

History

‘Kamisori’ sounds exotic, but it’s a simple Japanese word meaning ‘razor.’ So, if you think about it, saying ‘Kamisori Razor’ is redundant. While the meaning of Kamisori isn’t as intriguing, the history sheds light on religion, tradition, and old-fashioned steel.

The history of Kamisori dates back to 1,000 years ago when Buddhist monks sailing from the Korean peninsula to the mainland introduced the razor. Buddhists value hair removal as it serves different purposes, including:

• Following the example of Gautama Siddhartha, the man who became a Buddha by turning away wealth in favor of seeking enlightenment.
• It symbolizes an outward rejection of ‘the three poisonous attitudes’ (ignorance, attachment, and aversion). By shaving the head clean, the monk is forsaking mental toxins.

The Kamisori was an integral part of shaving, and these monks brought these razors to Japan when they moved from Goryeo Dynasty. However, the Kamisori wasn’t adopted in a widespread manner until the Bushido became popular, and the Japanese cut throat razor popularity grew as well.

The Bushido is a code of honor, like chivalry in the West. It’s a loyalty discipline to the nobles, martial arts, and sincerity in actions. For the samurais, the Bushido code was a way of life. They adhered to uncompromising grooming codes and used the Kamisori to shave their faces. As it often happens, popular modes of appearance are mimicked downward. Many men in Japan copied the samurai look and started shaving facial hair in no time.

Even when the foreign blades penetrated the Japanese market, the Kamisori retained its status and popularity.

Why You Might Want a Kamisori Japanese Straight Razor

Facial Hair

If you have a mustache or a beard, the Kamisori will work great since it has a small blade. It’s easier to control the blade and fit it into smaller and tight gaps like under the nose. This helps to prevent nicks and cuts. Also, the Kamisori point is more prominent than the western straight razors increasing accuracy. As a sidenote, we are working on a buyers guide for the best Japanese razor for women later this year.

Thick Hair

The Kamisori performs well when cutting through thick hair. The Kamisori blade is thicker than thin Western straight razor blades meaning they have more power in every stroke. Although the Kamisori is tough on sensitive skin, they are ideal for achieving a close shave for men with tough skin.

Minimalism

The Kamisori has a minimalist design, and they are long-lasting and require less resharpening than other straight razors, saving you money and time. Although some Kamisoris are built from carbon steel, their maintenance is easy. They don’t have a horn or wooden scales that need oiling, and the blade only requires rinsing, wiping, and oiling after every shave. Aside from minimal care, the design is great for men who love devices stripped down to their functional aspects.

Ease of Use

The simple design makes the Kamisori easier to use. The straight tang and no folding handle make it easier to handle like a chef’s knife. The short blade clears through hairs smoothly without jumping or skipping.

What Else to Consider?

Because of the short blade and generally different design, there’s a learning curve during which you’ll get a lot of nicks and cuts.

And since the blade edge is structurally different from Western straight razors, honing is slightly different and takes some time to adjust.

Finally, today, real Kamisori are hard to find. Luckily, there are still some artisans left making them and good alternatives.

Kamisori Straight Razor Brands

Some of the biggest and most recommended brands of Kamisori razors are Iwasaki, Osami Mizuike, Tamahagane, and Kenwa. If you are not ready to go hardcore but want to transition into this style of shaving, popular brands like Feather, Facón, and Kai make good Japanese-style straight razor alternatives.

Best Kamisori Razors

1. Iwasaki Kamisori – Classic Kamisori

This Kamisori is made by a gentleman named Ryoichi Mizuochi who took over for Shigeyoshi Iwasaki. Shigeyoshi took over the company from his father, who was a well-known metallurgist who, among other things, is known for classifying different types of Japanese steel as well as being instrumental in the identification of a handful of ancient samurai swords and knives from the ninth century.

This family has perfected the technique of making Kamisori razors. This technique has evolved to perfection and has since remained unchanged for well over 50 years.

It is highly coveted yet difficult to find a razor that provides a close and intuitive shave.

The razor is carved from Swedish Sandvik steel laminated with softer low-carbon steel, and the carbon content is between 1.25% and 1.28%. The blade length is 50 mm, and the total razor length is 165 mm.

Although traditional Kamisori razors are either for left or right-handed use, this razor is made for both left and right-handed users. The handle is wrapped in rattan for improved balance and security and is packed in a Paulownia wooden box.

2. Kananga Osami Mizuike Razor – Designed for Professionals

This is a sharp razor favored by Maiko in Kyoto for face shaving. It was designed by Osami Mizuika, a professional grip scissor maker that belongs to a family from the Banshu region. The razor is made from quality carbon steel razors and is perfect for expert shavers who enjoy getting a close shave with a tough blade.

Due to the symmetrical hollow grind, any man who has experience handling Western straight razors will have an easier time using the Osami Mizuike.

The handle is wrapped in eco-friendly bamboo for a superior grip. The blade is 50 mm long, and the razor is 160mm and weighs 50g.

Since it’s made from carbon steel, the razor needs a lot of care and maintenance, including applying Camelia oil to prevent rusting.

3. Feather Artist Club Soft Grip DX Japanese Straight Razor – Easy to Use & Maintain

We should kick this off by saying this isn’t a true Kamisori razor, the correct term would maybe be a Kamisori shavette, but it’s a great alternative for those looking to transition to a Japanese straight razor.

This single replaceable blade straight razor (also known as a Shavette razor) is designed for professional men’s shavers. It’s designed from stainless steel, which gives it a smooth feel and makes it chemical and heat resistant. The rounded ridge presses gently on the skin to help raise the skin and disperse pressure at the edge. Together with the blade exposure, the blade provides soft and smooth shaves.

The handle is covered in a soft elastomer handle that provides a soft but slip-resistant grip. The grip is easy to clean and is resistant to heat up to 135 degrees Celsius. The blade replacement mechanism is spring-mounted, making it easier to replace blades and dismantle them for cleaning.

When cleaning, rinse under running water but avoid using sodium hypochlorite as a disinfectant.

4. Feather Artist Club SR Japanese Razor – Ideal for Professionals

Like the Feather Artist Club Soft Grip DX Straight Razor, the SR is a transition razor too. However, compared to the DX, the Feather Artist SR features a thicker curved head complete with a rounded tip making it ideal for men with heavy and thick hair.

Because of its weight, shavers need to apply less weight when shaving. The handle is made from silicone resin which provides better balance and grip. With the anti-slip notches, the handle has a superior grip all through the handle.

The boundary between the handle and the metal are gentle jimps that create stability. The one-touch spring mounting design makes it easy to assemble, disassemble, clean, and replace the blade.

You can boil the blade or use ethanol to disinfect it.

5. Facón Professional Standard Japanese Razor – Best Budget Japanese Straight Razor

If you are looking for a professional and long-lasting, the Facon Professional Standard Japanese Razor is perfect.

You’ll notice that this stainless-steel razor is all black, which is a different and refreshing look.

The razor is well-weighted and balanced, and well protected from rust and tarnish. The straight razor’s blade replacement mechanism is easy to use, and the grip is strong and comfortable.

Conclusion

A Japanese straight razor is a fascinating tool that has evolved over the centuries. Although they are different from popular western-style straight razors, they still have a place in the industry. If you’d like a traditional Kamisori straight razor, the top two options are a great place to start. If you are curious about this way of shaving, but not ready to leap just yet, the Feather DX is a good pick.

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