History of the Razor Club

Company History

The Razor Club's history is also available as content.

Episode 1: Changes in the shaving market in Japan
Episode 2: Japanese razor materials (strip steel)
Episode 3: The Great Changes at a Razor Manufacturer in the Early 21st Century
ENGLISH(History and Culture of Shaving in Japan)

1903

Founded

Craftsman Tokuemon Suzuki established the Suzutoku Safety Razor Factory in Kanda, Tokyo, and began manufacturing razor holders for general use. At the time, these products relied on craftsmanship and production was limited.

1920～

The spread of safety razors

World War I caused Gillette safety razors to become popular around the world. Imports to Japan also began. In 1932, Japan's first safety razor manufacturer, Nippon Safety Razor Industry (now Feather), was founded.

1957-62

New business opportunities emerge

After the war, he changed his name to Sanpo Shoji and became a razor sales agent. He met with Peter Oliver, the Far East general manager of Eversick, and learned that the liberalization of razor imports was imminent.

Shortly thereafter, the import of razor holders was liberalized in 1960, and replacement blades in 1962, and a fierce sales war began.

1965-71

Postwar Razor Market Showdown

Sanpo Shoji's main product, Schick, competed with Gillette and Feather for market share in Japan, and also established a supermarket special sales department. Eventually, the company's market share reached just under 40%, establishing itself as the leader.

→ [Reference] Changes in the shaving market in Japan

1982

The era of 70% chic market share

Schick's domestic market share exceeded 70%, far ahead of the competition. This was a unique Japanese phenomenon that attracted attention from around the world. The photo shows Kinzo Takeuchi giving a speech at the 20th anniversary of import liberalization.

1989

The Birth of the "Razor Club"

The Shaving Culture Museum 50 - Takeuchi Razor Club opens in Jingumae, Shibuya Ward, as a place to pass on razor culture. It displays items and books related to the history of razors.

1994

A gift from the US President

In appreciation of our many years of active market development and sales expansion of American products, we received a signed photograph from the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton. In the same year, "The History of Razors" was published.

2000

Expanding into new businesses

Due to capital and business alliance, Yasuoki Takeuchi resigns as president and CEO of Sanpo Shoji. Establishes new company Razor Club Co., Ltd. in Minamiaoyama and starts manufacturing high-end razors and developing the market. Establishes performance group "Beard Club" in 2006.

2014

Showroom & Barber Shop Opening

Opened a showroom in Aoba-ku, Yokohama. Opened a barber shop on the 4th floor of Barneys New York Yokohama.
The store mainly exhibits new and used razors and high-quality gift items.

2023

Focus on online sales

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, they have also started to sell products online and provide advice and customer service online. They also plan and manufacture original items.

1903年	東京上野末広町で，鈴徳安全カミソリ製作所開業
1938年	戦時下に発令された国家総動員法によって鈴徳安全カミソリ製作所、工場閉鎖
1939年	東京神田元佐久間町にて高級刃物卸商竹内金蔵商店を開業
1948年	竹内金蔵商店、日本橋小伝馬町に移転。翌年49年に三宝商事株式会社に社名変更
1949年	日本安全剃刀工業（現、フェザー安全カミソリ株式会社）の販売代理店に加入
1960年	カミソリの貿易自由化到来、米ジレット、米シックなど揃って日本市場へ上陸
1962年	替刃も完全自由化に、カミソリ市場激動期に突入、三宝商事は米シックを主力に取り組む
1965年	シック替刃広告に”15人の理容師がステンレス替刃の耐久性を推奨”を宣伝
1966年	三宝商事カミソリ専業大卸として販売拠点設置、問屋政策を通し全国小売り店へ
1968年	流通改革に伴い大手量販店との取引開始。イトーヨーカドー、ダイエー、西友など
1970年	シック替刃式レザーの開発と普及に専念、理容業界への初の使い捨て刃となる
1980年	当時の市場占有率、シック69.8％、ジレット10.2％、フェザー9.4％
1989年	三宝商事創業50周年祝、ジレット、シック、英国ウィルキンソンほか感謝歴訪ジレット、シック、ウィルキンソン、フェザー、他　本社代表より社主金蔵氏へ感謝状と同年12月8日原宿に竹内カミソリ文化館を開設。
1992年	上記カミソリ文化館を日本橋本町に移転。文化事業の他に関連情報の発信基地に
1994年	米国製カミソリ輸入貢献によりクリントン大統領よの直筆署名入り写真を拝受
2000年	京都のK社と資本及び業務提携、竹内康起、三宝商事代表取締役会長を退任新生カミソリ倶楽部を南青山に設立、高級カミソリ製造と市場開拓に着手
2006年	ヒゲ文化を命題にヒゲ剃り道具、手入れ、造形、理容専科仲間とヒゲ倶楽部設立
2014年	横浜市青葉区にショールームを開設バーニーズニューヨーク横浜店4Fにて理髪店を開業

Yasuoki Takeuchi

Yasuki Takeuchi

Born in 1942

After graduating from Rikkyo University in 1966, he joined Sanpo Shoji Co., Ltd., run by his father, Kinzo. He contributed to the expansion of the business by utilizing his experience living in America during his student days to expand sales channels to supermarkets.

In 1984, he became president and representative director of Sanpo Shoji Co., Ltd. In 2000, he established Kamisori Club Co., Ltd. and became president and representative director.

During his more than 100 overseas business trips, he has reflected on the culture of barbers and razors around the world, and supervised the "World Barber Tour," which interviewed and photographed barbershops around the world. In his book, "The History of Razors," you can learn about the history of razors and the process of the growth of the Japanese market.

→Representative greetings and introduction

Kinzo Takeuchi

Born in 1914

After working for a trading company, he joined a cutlery wholesaler in 1932. He later married the fifth daughter of Suzuki Tokuemon, the founder of Suzutoku Safety Razor Manufacturing, and rebuilt the business from a factory that had survived the war.

After assuming the position of President and Representative Director of Sanpo Shoji Co., Ltd. in 1949, he actively promoted collaborations with razor manufacturers not only in Japan but also overseas, and made an effort to expand the razor market in Japan after the war. He built a sales network with many ideas, such as dividing the country into eight blocks, and came to account for 50% of razor sales in Japan.

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