THOLL

Seki, in Gifu Prefecture, has a bladesmithing tradition the source puts at more than 800 years. KAI Corporation began making pocket knives there in 1908 and, according to the company, released Japan's first safety razor replacement blade in 1932. Its catalogue now runs to more than 10,000 products, from nail clippers and kitchen knives to medical scalpels and industrial blades, and in the US it is associated with the Kershaw, Zero Tolerance and Shun brands.

A razor without plastic

THOLL is KAI's answer to two concerns it identifies: the environmental cost of disposable razors and the shaving performance men expect. The maker says THOLL is the world's first razor with a plastic-free full-metal body, a construction it states is covered by Japanese patent registration. KAI positions the metal build as durable, resistant to wear over time and longer-lasting, which it says helps reduce waste.

The body also carries what KAI calls the world's first magnetic attachment system. Rather than prying cartridges off or working a locking mechanism, the blade snaps into place when brought near the head and comes away with light force, which the maker says lowers the risk of cutting fingers and makes changes easier for people with limited grip strength. The head pivots to follow the contours of the cheeks, jawline and throat.

The blades

Each replacement blade is 1.7mm thick and weighs 1.0g, according to KAI. The company says it deliberately simplified the cartridge structure compared with conventional five-blade designs to reduce production cost while maintaining shaving performance. The five blades are arranged to approach the skin progressively, cutting hair in stages to reduce pulling and post-shave irritation, which KAI pitches at those with sensitive skin.

• Plastic-free full-metal body (maker claims a world first)
• Magnetic blade attachment system
• Pivoting head
• Five blades in a progressive arrangement
• Blade edge controlled to 1μm or less, per KAI
• Replacement blades 1.7mm thick, 1.0g each
• 48 replacement blades included as standard
• Limited to 1000 units

KAI says its precision manufacturing controls the blade edge to 1μm or less, comparable in sharpness to the medical scalpels it produces, and claims the edge holds up over extended use, meaning fewer blade changes. The company reports building dozens of prototypes over the three-year development, tuning sharpness, skin feel, grip, weight balance and magnetic holding force.