Fukutaro Tanifuji born 1 April 1894 - 95 years old in 1990.
Registered as the holder of the Technical Certificate of Intangible Cultural Property of Sumida Municipality in 1986.
(on display at the Sumida Museum of Culture "Sumida do pasaulis", 30 May - 20 July 2015)
Mr Fukutaro Tanifuji pioneered the first western razor in Japan and helped out in his family's pocket knife shop from an early age. His father, Mr Tatsugoro, ran a business in Kanda Kishi-cho (now Kanda Awaji-cho), and eventually he was entrusted with the business and moved to Susaki-cho (now Mukojima 5-chome), where he was shown imported razors by a barber in the neighbourhood. He wanted to make a razor to suit his own needs, so he bought an imported Western razor and after more than two years of research he managed to develop a razor that was superior to the imported one. In 1918, he succeeded in being the first in the country to produce a Western razor with excellent durability and a beautiful shape.
It is no exaggeration to say that he has earned the confidence he has in his products today thanks to his constant passion for innovation, even in the choice of base metals and grinding stones.
(Emperor Taisho used the same type)
Mr Tanito once had a workshop in Sumida Ward, where many cutlery makers lived, and his brothers made western razors. Emperor Taisho also shaved his beard with a razor made by Tanito, and it is said to have been his favourite tool. However, with the advent of safe t-shaped and electric razors, the demand for Western straight razors declined and razors with interchangeable blades became common in barbershops. Eventually, many craftsmen changed jobs and only a few people, including Mr Tanifuji, were left who could produce western razors.
After Mr Tanifuji stopped making Western razors, he handed over the main equipment to Mr Iwasaki of Sanjo Seisakusho.
P. The Tanifuji method of production, which added a twist to the traditional technique, was a highly valuable craft technique.
P. Tanifuji's main western razors are TANIFUJI, CAPE, SPALDING, MaxFli, FAVORIT, Wogen, BA'BA, HOLCO, AIRI, KONIG, TF.HAIROP, Rikishia, RITUKY RAZOR, CLUB RAZOR, TENSTER, HELMAN, , BULDOGAKA, Tokiwa, Uga, Sobo, Iwasaki (marked with a T), and many other brands are stamped with the name of Tanifuji or Tanito Marufuku.
There is also a commemorative model with ivory handles by the blacksmith Shigeyoshi Iwasaki and a commemorative model with ivory handles by Shigeya Fujifutaro, both of whose names are inscribed on the paulownia wood box.