SHARPENER'S NOTE              

NO.18
Since Japanese scissors are recognized as the best in quality, I thought it would be interesting to learn about the birth of Japanese beauty scissors.

The first Japanese beauty scissors were made during the Meiji Restoration in the 1870s. In order to fully understand the birth of Japanese beauty scissors, we need to check out the historical background of Japan. 

The Meiji Restoration and Modernization

In 1868 the Tokugawa shôgun ("great general"), who ruled Japan in the feudal period, lost his power and the emperor was restored to the supreme position. The emperor took the name Meiji ("enlightened rule") as his reign name; this event was known as the Meiji Restoration.

The Reign of the Meiji Emperor

When the Meiji emperor was restored as head of Japan in 1868, the nation was a militarily weak country, was primarily agricultural, and had little technological development. It was controlled by hundreds of semi-independent feudal lords. The Western powers — Europe and the United States — had forced Japan to sign treaties that limited its control over its own foreign trade and required that crimes concerning foreigners in Japan be tried not in Japanese but in Western courts. When the Meiji period ended, with the death of the emperor in 1912, Japan had

· a highly centralized, bureaucratic government;
· a constitution establishing an elected parliament;
· a well-developed transport and communication system;
· a highly educated population free of feudal class restrictions;
· an established and rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology;
· a powerful army and navy.

*Source: http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/

The young Meiji emperor in traditional costume and western military dress.

On January 10, 1873 (Meiji 6), the samurai’s right to be the only armed force was abolished and replaced by a modern, western-style, conscripted army. The new system was called chouheirei (徴兵令, Conscription Ordinance) and was the beginning of the end of the samurai system in Japan.

Previously, on August 9, 1871 (Meiji 4), the government had already issued the Danpatsurei (断髪令, Cropped Hair Edict), encouraging samurai to cut their distinctive Chonmage top-knot. It created a minor photography boom when samurai rushed to photo studios to get their photo taken before their Chonmage was cut off. As a result of the edict, Western hair styles, called Zangiri (散切り), became increasingly popular. This became a powerful symbol of the dramatic change overtaking Japanese society.
  CHONMAGE – Traditional Topknot 

ZANGIRI – Western Hair Style
On March 28, 1876 (Meiji 9), samurai lost their right to wear swords. After that date, only military and police officers could wear swords. This is known as the haitorei (廃刀令, Sword Abolishment Edict). As a result of the haitorei, many Japanese sword smiths lost their job or turned to the production of farming implements and kitchen cutlery as well as hair scissors.

*Source : http://www.meijishowa.com/

The cropped hair edict was also issued in Korea 24 years after Japan in 1895, resulting in the adaptation of the western hairstyles over the traditional daeng-gi (braided) style before and sang-tu (topknot) style after marriage.

Therefore it can be assumed that the public started using shears in mass around 1871 for Japan and 1895 for Korea.
Daeng-gi before marriage      

Sang-tu after marriage
  <Upcoming Topics of Sharpener's Note>   

2017

1.Birth and Historical Background of Japanese Beauty Scissors

2.First Japanese Beauty Scissors

3.Natural Whetstone

4.Iron Grindstone

5.Ceramic Whetstone

6.Diamond Whetstone

7.Lapping film

8.CERAX

9.Wooden Whetstone

10.Okuma Sharpening Assist Device

11.Magic Whetstone, Sandpaper

12.Flatten Sharpening Stones


2018 : Sharpening Tools

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2.Dedicated Driver

3.TAMEKI

4.Banding Tool

5.Hammer

6.Light Box

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8.Pitch Gauge

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10.Angle Meter

11.Loupe Microscope Expander

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2019 : Japanese Sharpening Machine

1.Sharpening Machine 1

2.Sharpening Machine 2

3.Sharpening Machine 3

4.Sharpening Machine 4

5.Sharpening Machine 5

6.Sharpening Machine 6

7.Sharpening Machine 7

8.Sharpening Machine 8

9.Sharpening Machine 9

10.OTHER Sharpening Machine

11.Polishing Machine

12.Clipper Grinder


2020 : Sharpening Technique

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2.Ride Line - Basics

3.Ride Line - Intermediate

4.How To Make Ride Line for Bad Scissors

5.How To Make Sharp Edge - Basic

6.How To Make Sharp Edge - Intermediate

7.How To Sharpen Thinners - Basics

8.How To Sharpen Thinners - Intermediate

9.How To Sharpen German/Taiwanese Scissors

10.How To Discriminate Un-Sharpenable Scissors

11.How To Test After Sharpening

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