Combs Made from Optimal Boxwood for Combs

First, can you tell us about the history of boxwood combs?

Boxwood combs are combs made from the boxwood tree.
The history of combs is incredibly old, with some unearthed from Jomon period ruins in Japan. Additionally, horizontal combs, similar to what we use today, are said to have come from the continent. As these combs made their way to Japan, the boxwood tree was chosen because it was found to be the best material for combs.

Good combs have certain characteristics. Firstly, the smooth touch when held, which relies heavily on the material’s density. Additionally, a certain level of hardness and flexibility allows for thorough polishing of the comb's teeth. This elasticity contributes to the comb’s durability.
These factors ensure the comb glides smoothly through hair and is gentle on the scalp.

If unsuitable wood is used for combs, it can harm the scalp, break easily, or create a poor combing experience.
In Japan, boxwood was a material that met these conditions. While boxwood is common as a garden tree, high-quality boxwood suitable for combs can only be obtained from certain regions in Japan.

At Jyusanya, we use Satsuma boxwood from Kagoshima Prefecture. This boxwood is grown in challenging conditions near the sea with acidic soil and the Kuroshio Current, with added alkaline lime to improve growth.

The history of boxwood combs is also ancient. According to a professor at the University of Tokyo, a friend of my father, boxwood combs have been excavated from wells dating back to the Nara period. This suggests that boxwood combs existed at least 1300 years ago.

In ancient times, boxwood combs were used for rituals. It was during the Edo period that common people also started using them, and the types of boxwood combs dramatically increased. During the Edo period, the culture of "Japanese hairstyles" emerged among the common people, leading to a high demand for combs to arrange these hairstyles. Many types of Japanese hairstyles existed, each requiring different kinds of combs tailored to their respective styles.

In the Edo period, there were three main regions for producing high-quality, professional boxwood combs. Due to underdeveloped transportation and logistics, production concentrated in these three areas based on geographical considerations.

First, on the western side of Japan, across Lake Biwa, Osaka flourished as a production area. Moving east from Lake Biwa towards the Hakone area, Kiso Yabuhara (Nagano) was the next hub. Finally, from east of the Hakone mountains to northern Japan, Edo (now Tokyo) was the main production and supply area for combs.

Combs from Osaka feature a shape with angled shoulders resembling an anchor, while those from Tokyo have a rounded form. Combs from Nagano have a shape between the two.

In Tokyo, to avoid wasting any part of the board, it’s cut larger with the unusable knot portions removed later, resulting in a rounded finish for the combs.

Founded in the Edo Period, and Overcame the Great Kanto Earthquake to Reach the Present Day

What kind of history does Jyusanya have?

I am the 15th generation if counting from the founder, but in fact, the detailed history is not well known.

Most of the historical documents were burned in the Great Kanto Earthquake... Only the family register and the signboard in the back of the store remain. That signboard is from the Edo period.

Based on what has been passed down through word of mouth, the store was founded in the first year of Genbun (1736). The name of the first generation was Seihachi Kaneko, and he was originally a lower-ranked samurai in the Sendai domain.

The year Seihachi abandoned his domain and started his business was the first year of Genbun. This was a period when the glamorous Genroku era had ended, and a long period of food shortages continued. Therefore, Seihachi did side jobs in addition to his work, one of which was making combs.
He decided to start his business in the first year of Genbun, but faced a problem.

There was nothing to use for the store's name. Normally, you would use something related to your birthplace, master, or the name of the shop where you trained, but he had abandoned his domain, so he couldn’t use any of those.

That’s when he came up with the idea of using the kanji for "nine" and "four" from the word "kushi" (comb), combining them to form "jyusan" (thirteen) in numerical form. This way, customers would easily understand it was a comb shop and would avoid duplicates with other shops.
Thus, the store name became Jyusanya.

During the Great Kanto Earthquake, the shop burned down, leaving only a few things.
However, the shop remained, and after a block redevelopment, it reopened at its current location, which is about one storehouse away from the original place. It survived World War II without burning down, coming to what it is today.

At Jyusanya, there is a rule that you cannot become a successor unless you can do the work. Only those who can make combs have been heads of the shop, and I am the first eldest son to become the head.

Due to this rule and failed attempts at new businesses, there were times in the past when there was no head of the shop and only merchants were running it. Because of such situations, the family name of the head changed each time. The current name, Takeuchi, has been the family name of the head since my father's generation.

The boxwood combs of Jyusanya are very popular due to their high quality, and during the time of the Goyotashi (royal warrants of appointment) system, we supplied combs to the Imperial Household. We still receive orders to this day.

Customer Feedback Sparked the Drive

Takeuchi, did you always think about taking over the family business since you were a child?

No, to be honest, I didn’t think anything about it when I was a child. I just thought it was unique. My friends used to say, "It smells good!"

When making the boxwood combs, there is a process of smoking to remove the bitterness from the wood. The smell is similar to a bonfire or a public bath.

When I was in middle school, I started to think, "Maybe I should take over?" but in high school, I became interested in a different job. Meanwhile, my relatives, worried about the store's survival, told me about the good points of working at Jyusanya, like "The salary is good" or "You can take breaks whenever you want." Looking back now, it was all lies...

My father didn’t say anything about the job. Now I understand, this job has many hardships. It’s not something you can continue if told to "do it."
That’s why he respected my opinions as his son.
In the end, we talked it through and decided I would join the business after graduating high school. So, I started working the day after I graduated, on April 1st.

Since I had been helping with the polishing process since middle school, I smoothly adapted to the job.
However, as a high school student who had given up on a job I was interested in and had to work sitting all day, I found it boring and unpleasant.

The turning point came six years after I started working.
A customer visited the store and showed me one of our boxwood combs, saying, "It’s very easy to use, I want to give one to a friend."

All our boxwood combs are handmade, so there are subtle differences in the finish between my father’s and mine. I immediately recognized the comb made by me.

Truth be told, I had only been able to make boxwood combs by myself since the previous year. So that customer was the first to give feedback on a product I made.

I picked out a boxwood comb suitable for their friend. The customer was very pleased...
It was from that moment that I felt a great sense of fulfillment in this work and decided to continue.

Combs Made in About 60 Steps

It's all handcrafted from the start.

Yes, we've been handcrafting our combs since our establishment. When the Agency for Cultural Affairs recorded our manufacturing process some time ago, they found out that there are about 60 steps involved.

All these approximately 60 steps are designed to bring out the potential of the boxwood combs.
I believe once you use these combs, you'll understand their quality. The touch, the feel on your scalp, and how smoothly it goes through hair—people's experiences may vary, but there's definitely a difference.

To let you experience this difference, we have sample combs in the store. These samples have some scratches and lack commercial value, but they are still functional. This way, you can try and feel the difference for yourself.

Our combs aren't cheap by any means. Customers likely do some research before finding our store.
We don't want customers who made that effort to leave unsure of whether to buy due to not understanding the feel. We want to ensure they're satisfied.

After trying the samples, we can adjust the product to some extent to fit your preferences, such as making it gentler on the scalp.
If your tastes change over time or you want to make the comb softer for your child, we can accommodate these requests as well.
This level of customization requires experienced craftsmanship.

In the past, boxwood combs were considered items for a lifetime and were often passed from mothers to daughters.
They were tools that accompanied the daily lives of their owners and families. I believe that used to be the true essence of tools.
Adjusting tools to fit the lifestyle is the role of specialized stores like ours.
I always tell our customers, "If you ever need anything, please come back. We'll do our best to assist you."

As a Craftsman & Merchant: Caring for Customers via Boxwood Combs

What is the appeal of making boxwood combs?

It's the feeling of it never ending, perhaps?
As I mentioned, boxwood combs are considered items for a lifetime. Sometimes, after a comb is completed, it comes back to me for adjustments and then returns to the customer.
Boxwood is a natural material that varies significantly with the seasons and weather. Thus, every time we make one, adjustments are necessary.

I'm a craftsman but also a merchant. This dual role means I have to consistently maintain a certain level of quality. These adjustments require years of experience and instinct, and they never really end.

At the same time, as a craftsman, I have a commitment to making combs that are easy to use. Some of the approximately 60 steps could be skipped without the customer noticing just by looking. But once they use the comb, the difference becomes clear.

Because of this belief, I always complete all the steps. It might be considered a kind of self-satisfaction.
As a craftsman and a merchant, continuously thinking about the customer through boxwood combs might be the most interesting aspect of making them.

Working with Customers Until the End

Tell us about your thoughts on the future.

This might sound arrogant, but if we stop making boxwood combs, this quality of boxwood combs would disappear.
Our commitment to handcrafting is not just because it's heartfelt. If machines could produce great products, that would be better. But in reality, machines can't process with the precision I currently achieve.
We prioritize quality; that's why we insist on handcrafting.

Regarding the know-how about boxwood combs in Jyusanya I haven't kept it secret at all. I maintain this stance because I think, "if someone can absorb it, I want them to absorb it."

For instance, if someone from a competitor comes for training, I would convey each of the approximately 60 steps. But once they learn the steps, they'd probably think, "I can't keep doing this," and leave. That's how detailed the process is.

Unless someone from the family takes over, this boxwood comb making won't continue.
My eldest son is helping with the finishing now, but just like my father did, I also want him to choose the path he wants to follow.
Even if we look for young people from the outside, it will be difficult due to the working conditions.

Furthermore, the number of farmers growing boxwood is decreasing, causing prices to soar. The tools used for the crucial smoothing process to achieve a silky feel are made with natural horsetail, but there's only one farmer growing it…
For various reasons, I think Jyusanya will end with my generation.

I'm currently 57 years old. Probably, I'm at my peak both physically and experientially. From here on, my eyesight will deteriorate and my hands might lose their fine motor skills.

If that happens, it can't be helped. But until then, I’ll strive for my customers.
That's how I view the future now.