A comb with a warm yellow tint. It feels surprisingly familiar in your hand and glides smoothly through your hair. According to Keiichi Takeuchi, the 15th generation owner of comb store Jyusanya, this is the true characteristic of a boxwood comb. It’s astonishing to learn that it takes dozens of steps to reach this quality.
In this interview, we spoke with Keiichi Takeuchi, who has been involved in making boxwood combs for many years, about the history, allure, and philosophy of boxwood combs.
PROFILE
Keiichi Takeuchi
Born in Showa 42 (1967). After graduating high school, he joined come store Jyusanya and dedicated himself to the business. The boxwood combs from Jyusanya have gained popularity for their high quality and were even presented to the Imperial family during the era when patronage systems existed. They use high-quality Satsuma boxwood, and to this day, continue making boxwood combs by hand.
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.
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