SHARPENER'S NOTE
NO.18 (Jan. 20, 2017)
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
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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
1.TASSAR
2.Dedicated Driver
3.TAMEKI
4.Banding Tool
5.Hammer
6.Light Box
7.Feeler Gauges
8.Pitch Gauge
9.Radian Apparatus
10.Angle Meter
11.Loupe Microscope Expander
12.Rubber Hardness Tester
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
1.What To Do Before Sharpening
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
12 Fast and Precise Sharpening
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