Anyone read japanese?

[FaPat5]

Received my first kamisori today. Sold to me as NOS and looks it too. Just got to try honing it and off we go. Thinking of maybe rounding the square point, as it already gave me a mild scratch on my strop when I have it a go (to see how it felt to strop - used no pressure).

Anyway, I was just wondering whether anyone could tell me what all the writing on the packaging/box/razor says? I'm just curious.

 

[Doc226]

Says send my way for proper disposal

 

[FaPat5]

Hmm I'll trade it you upwards for an iwasaki ;-) hehe. I'm hoping it'll shave as nice as it looks (at least to me). Just edited my first post re: the tip.

 

[professorchaos]

Don't round off the point!

 

[FaPat5]

Well I don't particularly want to, but I also can't have it scratching my strop all the time. That said, only one side of the blade scratches and not the other. Maybe that'll go after honing?

 

[Wid]

Bur on the edge?

 

[FaPat5]

I'm not sure. I'll try honing it first (not sure when yet), but it's completely blunt, so needs complete honing. It's only a thought I was playing with but I think I might be slaughtered if I do hehe.

Anyways, any ideas on the text?

 

[SliceOfLife]

That's some crazy script, I know 1k kanji so far and I can't recognize any of them. You'll probably need a native speaker to read that for you. We have a couple here if memory serves, just gotta wait for them to find this thread (for the life of me can't recall their ID's). I'm talking about the wrapping. The two rightmost on the box literally translate to "Comparatively" and "Strike/hit" if memory serves, but with Japanese, they could combine to have a completely different meaning, so that's not much help. And the second and third from the left MAY be "extreme/utmost" and "rarity/specialty". Again, just literal translations from what I vaguely recall.


edit: Working on box.


??? Cant find first kanji for the life of me.

Next three mean "Particularly special class" kyuu toku koto

I'll figure out the rest later. Dinnertime.

 

[gash]

It reads, 'YASUKI STEEL,' and, 'AZUMA.'

You're welcome.

 

[FaPat5]

That's some crazy script, I know 1k kanji so far and I can't recognize any of them. You'll probably need a native speaker to read that for you. We have a couple here if memory serves, just gotta wait for them to find this thread (for the life of me can't recall their ID's). I'm talking about the wrapping. The two rightmost on the box literally translate to "Comparatively" and "Strike/hit" if memory serves, but with Japanese, they could combine to have a completely different meaning, so that's not much help. And the second and third from the left MAY be "extreme/utmost" and "rarity/specialty". Again, just literal translations from what I vaguely recall.

Hey thanks for that. Maybe someone will clear it up so we can make out what it should mean.

It reads, 'YASUKI STEEL,' and, 'AZUMA.'

You're welcome.

Hehe you know what, I don't know any Japanese, but somehow I had a feeling it said that somewhere ;-)

 

[MixedMotives]

where did you get that i want one!

 

[SliceOfLife]

???級特殊鋼別打

??? kyuu toku koto hagane betsu da

??? Very special class steel different strike


My guess is that "betsu da" or 打別 basically means hand-forged, but that's just a guess.


Still no clue on the first kanji, sorry.


Oh and the wrapper is upside down and a weird font, but the first character and the 3rd-5th characters are the same as the box so, it also says "Special Class Steel". Not sure what the first two and next to last two kanji are. Last one is katana 刀 , which means blade, of course.

 

[Tierdaen]

高級特殊鋼別打
Forged from high-grade special steel. Hope that helps.

Wrapper says same thing with 御剃刀 (razor).

 

[life2short1971]

Don't round the tip but for a newb I do suggest giving each of the points a light dulling so they do not cut you. It doesn't have to be noticable but enough you can feel it has been dulled. That way in future honings it will return if you want it too or you can keep dulling it.

 

[FaPat5]

Oh and the wrapper is upside down

Oops sorry about that, but thanks a bunch for helping out!

高級特殊鋼別打
Forged from high-grade special steel. Hope that helps.

Wrapper says same thing with 御剃刀 (razor).

Great, thank you very much

with regard to the point, I might do what life2short1971 suggests, but first I'll do a bit more reading on honing these (I can't afford to have it done at moment and is rather first try myself). Thanks again for all your help guys.

 

[Legion]

Be careful honing it. Kamisori have a soft spine, and can be quickly messed up by incorrect honing. A lot more quickly than western razors.

 

[FaPat5]

Yeah, I've read that. I was thinking I'd tape the spine and see how I go, but having considered it, I don't want to mess this one up since its in such good condition (and has like no honewear at all), so I might send it to JNS to get honed there, as his rates are reasonable and at least it will get a decent honing so I can get the feel for how it should shave (plus he might be able to sort out the strop-scratching problem I was having as well).

 

[life2short1971]

If you are not proficient at honing any straight razors I strongly suggest you send it to Maxim. You will be much happier and your razor will be less wear and tear. Make sure you include note to softly mute the spikes.

 

[FaPat5]

Well, I can sort of hone my own normal western razors to a point that I can get on with them (though my latest one needs tuning because its annoying me), but I don't want to ruin this one because it'd just be a nightmare to screw up a razor in this sort of condition. I gather that it is extremely easy to put massive flatspot on there and I'd prefer not to do that. Ideally, if I find that I like the kamisori, I may get another one and then at least I'll always have one to practice on. I'm just worried about the pressure and everything, so at least for the first time I think maybe its best to get it honed professionally.

 

[life2short1971]

Find one of the beaters cheap to learn on. You can do some home restoration and learn to hone on it. Then when you are proficient you can maintain the Azuma. I had one when I started with straights and it was similar to yours. It shaved quite well in spite of the operator.