This review is about the Tatara Amakuni Ti
Introduction
Tatara is one of the few razor brands we have on the Iberian Peninsula. These Portuguese guys have created a line of razors, along with several other shaving products, that are high-quality and have a very distinctive aesthetic. So distinctive, in fact, that they constitute their own shaving peninsula.
A clear example of this is the incompatibility of their razor heads with standard handles. The Masamune and Muramasa razors don't accept any other type and the Nodachi can only be used with its own head, the Masamune's, or, with some exceptions, with conventional handles. It seems that Tatara wants to control (almost) every aspect of their razors to ensure the experience is exactly as they designed it.
Today we're reviewing a razor from the extensive and beautiful collection of our dear @J349. He's delighted us with his extraordinary razors before and I want to thank him again, with the same affection as always, a thousand times over! It's always a pleasure to use these razors but what's even more enjoyable is interacting with Joao. Thank you so much!
Given what I've said about Tatara's distinctive, "closed design," could this influence the quality of their product? Will it be aesthetically appealing? Will it offer technical innovations? Let's analyze it together and I'll share my impressions and opinions alongside the specs. Let's go!
Construction
The Tatara Amakuni Ti is a two-piece AC razor made of Grade 5 titanium using CNC machining. It uses AC blades, which, like everything else, have their advantages and disadvantages but also have specific dimensions. They are longer, thicker and narrower than DE blades and have their own guide holes. These holes have a different shape and position compared to DE blades. This always greatly influences the design of these AC razors. Firstly, they are single-edged, which eliminates the need for a symmetrical head. Secondly, because AC blades don't curve like DE blades. And thirdly, because a very important design choice is the position of the blade in relation to the handle.
The AC blade offers enough holes for proper positioning within a razor head. The two side guides are the most commonly used. Pins or longitudinal guides are the most common positional points. However, the central groove presents a challenge. A cylindrical center thread won't fit through that groove and the blade can't be positioned directly above the handle where the thread would engage. The blade would simply be in the way, preventing it.
To avoid this problem, some razors use a flattened thread. The handle screws into the sides with threads but the thread is flat enough to fit through the groove. The other solution, much less technically invasive, is to position the blade in front of the point where the head and handle screw together so a cylindrical thread can be used. These heads are distinguished by their more prominent shape, with the blade positioned further forward and away from the handle.
Both solutions have their advantages and disadvantages but Tatara opted for neither. They used a design where the blade sits above the handle but without threading. They use magnets to hold the blade and cap in place.
We've seen this system in other razors that use DE blades, whether full or half and it works well in those cases. A major strength of the HighProof Razor is its magnetic head, which makes it very intuitive, safe and comfortable to use. Furthermore, nowadays there are strong magnets that don't need to be very large and can be concealed inside the head. And this is the system Tatara has chosen to use for their Amakuni, a name steeped in legend, much like Muramasa and Masamune. According to legend, Amakuni Yasatsune was the first to create a Tachi, a single-edged, curved greatsword that replaced the straight, double-edged swords previously used in Japan. This was in the 8th century. Amakuni was the imperial swordsmith, responsible for making swords for the emperor's troops. One day, after a battle, Amakuni saw the emperor's warriors returning with damaged and broken swords and was deeply ashamed.
Together with his son Amakuna, he secluded himself in his forge for seven days and seven nights, praying to the Shinto gods for guidance. On the last night, they both had the same dream: a curved, single-edged sword. They set to work and 31 days later, the first Tachi was born—a long, curved, single-edged sword that is the ancestor of the shorter but more well-known Katana. All the warriors were astonished and didn't think this curved sword could be effective on the battlefield but Amakuna and his son continued to refine the design and its capabilities, presenting their finest creations to the troops. The following spring, a new war broke out and the imperial soldiers, with their newly curved blades, fought the battle. All returned with their swords intact and the emperor appointed Amakuni Master Imperial Bladesmith. His legend grew as his blades spilled blood. All this, according to legend, of course, because we don't have a selfie of Amakuni and his son presenting the first Tachi.
The folks at Tatara love Japanese mythology and the peace and tranquility that permeates its art and decor. This is also reflected in their razors. The thin, short handles with simple yet elegant lines or dots are a feature of all their razors. On this Amakuni, the dots are positioned at the same angle as the head meets the handle. A nice touch.
The razor heads follow the same design philosophy and the comb also incorporates the hamon pattern, which resembles the wavy temper line pattern on a Japanese sword’s edge. All these elements create a highly recognizable image and unify the brand's products. Whether this brings more advantages than disadvantages will be revealed when we analyze this Amakuni in more detail.
Material: Titanium Gr.5
Finish: Matte bead blasting
Handle length: 93 mm
Handle diameter: 11 mm
Total length of the razor: 98 mm
Total weight: 47 gr
Gap: 0,85 mm
Exposure: Depends on the blade used (With the Feather Professional (medium blade): 0.06 mm)
And if we start at the top of the cap, we see something interesting. The caps of single-edge razors are usually wedge-shaped. They only need to create the shaving plane on one side of the head, so why create two if one is enough? This is a very characteristic feature of AC single-edge razors and gives all the heads a similar wedge shape.
The Amakuni deviates from the established design, using the same curvature seen in their other razors and adapting it to the Amakuni's much narrower scale. This design effectively translates the Tatara family's design language to its own dimensions. Without the side panels, it would be difficult to distinguish the front from the back of the cap. Its curvature is perfectly symmetrical.
From the side it looks even better, with a nice full curve like the cap of any double-edged DE razor.
The swordsmith Amakuni also reportedly forged a double-edged curved sword called Kogarasu Maru, of which a replica is on display at the Imperial Collections Museum in Tokyo. It is the only sword that can be attributed to Amakuni with relative certainty and marks the transition from straight to curved swords.
The rear sides of the cap are lined with "side lids" that protect the rear corners of the blade and the head. We'll see later how the whole assembly forms a perfectly harmonious shape, even though its individual parts have gaps. It's like Yin and Yang, which together form a perfect circle but individually have irregular shapes.
The inside of the cap contains four small magnets and two holes for the guides located on the base plate. The corners are more clearly visible on the short sides. With a blade in place, we can see the fit between the blade and the cover. In the second photo, with the blade in place, the magnets hold it in place. When using the razor normally, the blade would never get caught in the cover when disassembled and the reason for this lies inside the base plate.
On that inner surface, we see four more magnets but this time they are considerably larger than those used in the lid. This ensures that the blade will always remain on the base plate when we open the razor because of the stronger magnetic pull. We also see two prongs that form the blade positioning guides and a screw in the center that attaches the base plate to the handle.
There are also recesses. The comb contains two wide channels for rinsing and three supports, the central one being the widest because it spans the width of the handle. At the back corners, we see recesses to create open spaces. These spaces allow us to easily and comfortably handle the blade. We can use two fingers on one side or one finger on each side to insert and/or remove the blade. These recesses are covered by the sides of the lid when everything is assembled.
On the underside of the base plate, we see the razor's name, the metal it's made of and the Tatara samurai logo. The two comb channels are also visible and we can see that the handle and base plate meet at an angle. This is to create a more comfortable angle of use between the handle and the blade. AC blades don't curve like DE blades to create a cutting angle within the blade and if the AC blade's edge isn't positioned at a certain angle, you have to hold the handle far away from your skin to achieve a comfortable cutting angle between the blade and the skin.
This doesn't necessarily have to be a problem. With the Focus Tritok, the blade emerges almost straight from the head and you have to hold the handle quite far from your skin because the razor head is very flat. What happens in these cases is that the razor's movement changes from a pulling motion to a pushing motion. Both movements move the blade but they provide different sensations.
The finish and tolerances are of a very high standard. The bead blasting, the engravings, the fit of the magnets, the alignment of the guides with the blade holes, the alignment of the holes in the lid for the guides, the side panels covering the plate, the fit with the back panel... everything is of very high quality and precision. Normally, the ease of unscrewing the handle is something I also appreciate but in this case, I value the way the lid attaches to the base plate. It does so perfectly, securely and very satisfactorily. There's little that can be done to improve it. Paint it red, I suppose…
The head and comb have a stepped design that creates a compact yet well-defined shaving plane. This is due to the comb's positioning, which extends a little further than normal. The cap fits snugly where it meets the blade, creating a shaving plane with a slightly positive to quite positive exposure, depending on the blades used.
The safety bar has oval grooves that allow sufficient lubrication to reach the edge and it's a very fine comb. Even so, the grooved part that comes into contact with the skin is beveled to create a flat shaving surface between a well-defined edge and cap. It also has beautiful corners that taper as they curve from the side to the part that touches the skin. A very nice aesthetic detail in something as simple as the curve of a safety bar.
Score: 20 points
Material/Construction: 5
Finish: 5
Tolerances: 5
Head/comb shape: 5
Grip
The handle represents a continuation of Tatara's design style. These slender handles with rounded bases and dots have already been seen on the Masamune and Muramasa. The Nodachi has a longer handle because, as its name suggests, it represents a bigger cutting tool that requires a stronger grip.
Even so, the grip on this Amakuni doesn't benefit much from its inherited shape. The dots offer very little additional friction and the lack of a pommel and the only slightly longer length limit the different grip positions. What does help is the friction of the material and the bead blasted finish. This provides enough friction to grip the handle securely. Comfort is excellent. The material feels silky. Its lightness makes you want to handle and play with the razor. It's so light and compact that you can almost move it like a pen. This also translates into very good control. I've noticed that with this razor I haven't used a conventional grip but rather a pen grip, which is a combination of a conventional grip and a horizontal grip.
It's a grip where the rounded base of the handle always rested against the base of my fingers and I could grip it with three fingers just like I would a pen. I used this grip for all my passes and found it very comfortable. It's as if the razor were an extension of my fingers and it eliminates something we'll discuss in the handling section. Only below the jawline did I have to bring the handle closer to the skin but all the other passes went perfect with the pen grip. The glide of the head is also very good. Moving on to the shaving section, the shaving plane is very well designed. The comb extends slightly further than usual in this stepped configuration and the cap fits very well in height where it meets the blade. This creates a flatter shaving plane, which reduces the blade's cutting angle. Tatara states it's 29 degrees and I believe them. This provides a relatively smooth shave. The geometry of the shaving plane allows for a reduced cutting angle but also provides enough space for the blade to rest its bevel on the skin—something not all AC razors achieve, often only allowing you to use the very tip of the blade which, in turn, provides more blade feel.
The safety bar offers good grooves that allow sufficient lubrication to pass through. The cap, with its bead blasted finish, isn't the smoothest but only a narrow strip comes into contact with the skin. The reduced weight does the rest. Because there isn't much mass resting on the skin, this tool moves very easily, which benefits the glide.
Score: 19 points
Dry/Wet: 4
Comfort: 5
Control: 5
Head glide: 5
Handling
At 47 grams, the razor is incredibly light, although it doesn't feel like an aluminum razor. To be perfectly fair, an aluminum razor would weigh about 10 grams less and that makes a difference. But it's also important to know how this weight is distributed and that's where we find something worth highlighting.
The heads of AC razors, which position the blade above the handle, are very narrow. Combined with a low-density material, the weight of the head is minimal. In this case, it's quite noticeable that the head weighs almost nothing, which shifts the balance point towards the base of the handle. The balance point is located roughly halfway along the handle. And that's precisely the point where I grip the razor to use it. As I mentioned in the grip section, using the pen grip eliminates a few things I noticed. I felt the handle's shape didn't offer any additional grip. I solved that with the pen grip, which creates more points of contact with the skin where the material's friction can actually work.
And the second thing I noticed was the balance. With a conventional grip, there's a pendulum effect where the base of the handle starts to swing like a pendulum with movement because there isn't enough weight in the tip. By pulling the grip back with a pen-like grip, this pendulum effect is also eliminated. And a third benefit of the pen grip is that it gives the handle, which isn't particularly long, more length. With AC razors, you can achieve excellent edge trimming. The heads are compact and you can see what you're doing clearly... as long as the head is at a comfortable and ample distance from your fingers. With this pen grip, not only is the distance excellent but the head (and the blade) feel like an extension of your fingers, allowing you to trim without any problems.
Changing the blade is super convenient. I love these magnetic razors because they make changing the blade safe, easy and comfortable. Cleaning is also a breeze. There are no obstacles worth mentioning and the safety bar is very fine, allowing for easy cleaning with just a cloth or a towel. Everything is so convenient and practical. Completely zen.
Score: 19
Balance: 4
Weight: 5
Model: 5
Cleaning: 5
Shaving
My personal situation makes better use of the advantages and adapts more to the disadvantages of DE blades than AC blades. I have a thick, coarse beard. I also have concave surfaces below my jawline that benefit more from a shorter blade. Therefore, when I use a razor with AC blades, I always have to find the best way to make the most of its features.
With this Amakuni, that wasn't necessary. The first shave I had was the best I've had with an AC razor in a long time. I used a Feather Professional blade. This razor has a gap of 0.85 mm and an exposure of 0.06 mm with this blade. The gap allows you to apply some pressure and the exposure allows the blade to get close to the skin, creating that tight cutting angle. The result is a very good shave that even allows you to apply pressure to reach those hard-to-access areas and get a smooth, polished finish on almost every surface.
And things don't change much with the Feather Professional Super blade, although it adds an extra 0.25 mm of exposure. The shave is more efficient, if possible and obviously less forgiving but the razor allows you to take advantage of this added efficiency in a very controlled way. You can also achieve a perfect shave with this blade, although it's better to do touch-ups rather than applying the pressure that you can apply with the 0.25 mm less exposure of the less aggressive blade. As you'd expect, with a smaller head, it's much easier to reach all those tricky spots we want to shave. Under the nose, along the jawline, contouring, nostrils—everything becomes accessible. The only areas that are slightly less easy are those large, concave surfaces under the jaw I mentioned earlier. There, you have to maneuver the head more in line with the slope and you shave better in an X-shape than in a straight line.
The blade makes a difference, that's obvious and with many razors I find a very marked difference between blades that work better for me than others. With this Amakuni razor, the difference between blades still exists but the sensations it gives me are always of complete control. I never felt that with the least efficient blade I had to force it and I never felt that with the most efficient one I had to be more careful.
And it's not that you don't feel a big difference between the blades, because you definitely notice it. We're talking about an exposure of 0.06 mm or 0.31 mm. That's a significant difference. But the head gives you plenty of options to use that reduced cutting angle with the cap that fits snugly against the blade, or to use the safety bar if you don't want to use the shaving plane with the exposure included.
With the Professional blade, the entire shaving plane is very usable and the AC blade benefits from this limited exposure. The Professional Super also allows you to use the shaving plane but with a more pronounced blade feel. The best approach is to slightly adjust the angle to use riding the cap while maintaining that reduced cutting angle, or to use riding the bar to slightly increase the cutting angle and take greater advantage of the support. Many options, all with similar shaving potential. The only difference lies in the feel for those seeking something different. That noticeable exposure, whether with a standard blade or a more efficient one, means you have to be very careful with what you're doing. Also, the fact that it's so easy and comfortable to make passes with this razor can lead to an extra pass or touch-up and make your skin feel it afterward. I've even seen a few red spots on some shaves (with the Professional Super). It catches everything but it always tells you exactly what it's going to do and what it's doing.
Score: 19 points
Score: 5
Head control: 5
Blade: 5
Indulgent: 4
Quality/Price
The razor has a clean look with humble lines and no embellishments like a high-gloss finish or rococo details. If someone were to call it boring, I think one could make a case for that position. But considering everything we've seen, it contains within those simple, understated lines, the same efficiency and great potential that also the samurai possessed.
Small in size and weight, they didn't appear to be great warriors like the Vikings, for example but in hand-to-hand combat they were fearsome enemies with the potential to leave you with half your body broken and the other dismembered. Their small size hid the deadly potential they possessed.
But despite its small size, the price tag is hefty. 469 Euros for this titanium version. The stainless steel version weighs 88 grams and costs 239, half the price. For a razor with relatively few "difficult" parts to manufacture, it seems expensive to me. I understand it's made in Portugal and prices vary across Europe but it's still money and that affects the value it can deliver. The more it costs, the more impressive it has to be. I think it will sell well on the secondhand market. I've seen a few already appearing and it's not that old. Everyone has their reasons for selling, of course but I imagine that in hand, the razor seems more understated than other, flashier models. That could be a reason for selling. Its simple lines, small size and unassuming design don't do it any favors in that regard. I don't see it as a collector's item. I don't see it going up much in price, which is already high.
Could I live with this razor for the rest of my life? It's an AC razor... those have to be really good for me to give it a resounding "yes." The first thing I'll say is that I'm not giving it a "no." This razor works very well, it's very well made and it has a more usable geometry than other AC razors. And the reason it doesn't get 5 stars isn't the razor itself but the blade. AC blades simply aren't the ones that suit my preferences and needs. It's not the razor's fault; I love it.
Score: 17 points
Aesthetics: 5
Reward: 4
Value in 25: 4
Single razor: 4
Conclusion
This Amakuni Ti is a unique razor in the world of AC razors. Its aesthetic design, so closely linked to its Tatara family, its technical design with magnets and impeccable manufacturing and its geometric design that allows for a reduced cutting angle—something unusual in AC razors—make it truly special.
While I'm not a die-hard fan of AC razors, I can recognize their advantages and disadvantages and this Amakuni Ti has far more advantages than disadvantages. But it's hard to see that at first glance. When I took it out of its Portuguese cork box, it didn't look like much. No shine, a matte gray, a very simple "T" shape. Was this what Tatara had created as their first single-edge razor and with three aces up their sleeve already in their catalog?
Yes, it is and it's not what it seems. It's expensive, that's obvious. It's small, even a blind person can see that. It doesn't look like much. But this razor carries the Tatara name with pride. It will never be my favorite razor because the blades aren't but right now it's the best AC razor I've ever used and it didn't win me over with words, it won me over with performance. Tatara has earned the title of Peninsular Master Forger. Amakuni can be proud.
Final score: 94 points
Introduction
Tatara is one of the few razor brands we have on the Iberian Peninsula. These Portuguese guys have created a line of razors, along with several other shaving products, that are high-quality and have a very distinctive aesthetic. So distinctive, in fact, that they constitute their own shaving peninsula.
A clear example of this is the incompatibility of their razor heads with standard handles. The Masamune and Muramasa razors don't accept any other type and the Nodachi can only be used with its own head, the Masamune's, or, with some exceptions, with conventional handles. It seems that Tatara wants to control (almost) every aspect of their razors to ensure the experience is exactly as they designed it.
Today we're reviewing a razor from the extensive and beautiful collection of our dear @J349. He's delighted us with his extraordinary razors before and I want to thank him again, with the same affection as always, a thousand times over! It's always a pleasure to use these razors but what's even more enjoyable is interacting with Joao. Thank you so much!
Given what I've said about Tatara's distinctive, "closed design," could this influence the quality of their product? Will it be aesthetically appealing? Will it offer technical innovations? Let's analyze it together and I'll share my impressions and opinions alongside the specs. Let's go!
Construction
The Tatara Amakuni Ti is a two-piece AC razor made of Grade 5 titanium using CNC machining. It uses AC blades, which, like everything else, have their advantages and disadvantages but also have specific dimensions. They are longer, thicker and narrower than DE blades and have their own guide holes. These holes have a different shape and position compared to DE blades. This always greatly influences the design of these AC razors. Firstly, they are single-edged, which eliminates the need for a symmetrical head. Secondly, because AC blades don't curve like DE blades. And thirdly, because a very important design choice is the position of the blade in relation to the handle.
The AC blade offers enough holes for proper positioning within a razor head. The two side guides are the most commonly used. Pins or longitudinal guides are the most common positional points. However, the central groove presents a challenge. A cylindrical center thread won't fit through that groove and the blade can't be positioned directly above the handle where the thread would engage. The blade would simply be in the way, preventing it.
To avoid this problem, some razors use a flattened thread. The handle screws into the sides with threads but the thread is flat enough to fit through the groove. The other solution, much less technically invasive, is to position the blade in front of the point where the head and handle screw together so a cylindrical thread can be used. These heads are distinguished by their more prominent shape, with the blade positioned further forward and away from the handle.
Both solutions have their advantages and disadvantages but Tatara opted for neither. They used a design where the blade sits above the handle but without threading. They use magnets to hold the blade and cap in place.
We've seen this system in other razors that use DE blades, whether full or half and it works well in those cases. A major strength of the HighProof Razor is its magnetic head, which makes it very intuitive, safe and comfortable to use. Furthermore, nowadays there are strong magnets that don't need to be very large and can be concealed inside the head. And this is the system Tatara has chosen to use for their Amakuni, a name steeped in legend, much like Muramasa and Masamune. According to legend, Amakuni Yasatsune was the first to create a Tachi, a single-edged, curved greatsword that replaced the straight, double-edged swords previously used in Japan. This was in the 8th century. Amakuni was the imperial swordsmith, responsible for making swords for the emperor's troops. One day, after a battle, Amakuni saw the emperor's warriors returning with damaged and broken swords and was deeply ashamed.
Together with his son Amakuna, he secluded himself in his forge for seven days and seven nights, praying to the Shinto gods for guidance. On the last night, they both had the same dream: a curved, single-edged sword. They set to work and 31 days later, the first Tachi was born—a long, curved, single-edged sword that is the ancestor of the shorter but more well-known Katana. All the warriors were astonished and didn't think this curved sword could be effective on the battlefield but Amakuna and his son continued to refine the design and its capabilities, presenting their finest creations to the troops. The following spring, a new war broke out and the imperial soldiers, with their newly curved blades, fought the battle. All returned with their swords intact and the emperor appointed Amakuni Master Imperial Bladesmith. His legend grew as his blades spilled blood. All this, according to legend, of course, because we don't have a selfie of Amakuni and his son presenting the first Tachi.
The folks at Tatara love Japanese mythology and the peace and tranquility that permeates its art and decor. This is also reflected in their razors. The thin, short handles with simple yet elegant lines or dots are a feature of all their razors. On this Amakuni, the dots are positioned at the same angle as the head meets the handle. A nice touch.
The razor heads follow the same design philosophy and the comb also incorporates the hamon pattern, which resembles the wavy temper line pattern on a Japanese sword’s edge. All these elements create a highly recognizable image and unify the brand's products. Whether this brings more advantages than disadvantages will be revealed when we analyze this Amakuni in more detail.
Material: Titanium Gr.5
Finish: Matte bead blasting
Handle length: 93 mm
Handle diameter: 11 mm
Total length of the razor: 98 mm
Total weight: 47 gr
Gap: 0,85 mm
Exposure: Depends on the blade used (With the Feather Professional (medium blade): 0.06 mm)
And if we start at the top of the cap, we see something interesting. The caps of single-edge razors are usually wedge-shaped. They only need to create the shaving plane on one side of the head, so why create two if one is enough? This is a very characteristic feature of AC single-edge razors and gives all the heads a similar wedge shape.
The Amakuni deviates from the established design, using the same curvature seen in their other razors and adapting it to the Amakuni's much narrower scale. This design effectively translates the Tatara family's design language to its own dimensions. Without the side panels, it would be difficult to distinguish the front from the back of the cap. Its curvature is perfectly symmetrical.
From the side it looks even better, with a nice full curve like the cap of any double-edged DE razor.
The swordsmith Amakuni also reportedly forged a double-edged curved sword called Kogarasu Maru, of which a replica is on display at the Imperial Collections Museum in Tokyo. It is the only sword that can be attributed to Amakuni with relative certainty and marks the transition from straight to curved swords.
The rear sides of the cap are lined with "side lids" that protect the rear corners of the blade and the head. We'll see later how the whole assembly forms a perfectly harmonious shape, even though its individual parts have gaps. It's like Yin and Yang, which together form a perfect circle but individually have irregular shapes.
The inside of the cap contains four small magnets and two holes for the guides located on the base plate. The corners are more clearly visible on the short sides. With a blade in place, we can see the fit between the blade and the cover. In the second photo, with the blade in place, the magnets hold it in place. When using the razor normally, the blade would never get caught in the cover when disassembled and the reason for this lies inside the base plate.
On that inner surface, we see four more magnets but this time they are considerably larger than those used in the lid. This ensures that the blade will always remain on the base plate when we open the razor because of the stronger magnetic pull. We also see two prongs that form the blade positioning guides and a screw in the center that attaches the base plate to the handle.
There are also recesses. The comb contains two wide channels for rinsing and three supports, the central one being the widest because it spans the width of the handle. At the back corners, we see recesses to create open spaces. These spaces allow us to easily and comfortably handle the blade. We can use two fingers on one side or one finger on each side to insert and/or remove the blade. These recesses are covered by the sides of the lid when everything is assembled.
On the underside of the base plate, we see the razor's name, the metal it's made of and the Tatara samurai logo. The two comb channels are also visible and we can see that the handle and base plate meet at an angle. This is to create a more comfortable angle of use between the handle and the blade. AC blades don't curve like DE blades to create a cutting angle within the blade and if the AC blade's edge isn't positioned at a certain angle, you have to hold the handle far away from your skin to achieve a comfortable cutting angle between the blade and the skin.
This doesn't necessarily have to be a problem. With the Focus Tritok, the blade emerges almost straight from the head and you have to hold the handle quite far from your skin because the razor head is very flat. What happens in these cases is that the razor's movement changes from a pulling motion to a pushing motion. Both movements move the blade but they provide different sensations.
The finish and tolerances are of a very high standard. The bead blasting, the engravings, the fit of the magnets, the alignment of the guides with the blade holes, the alignment of the holes in the lid for the guides, the side panels covering the plate, the fit with the back panel... everything is of very high quality and precision. Normally, the ease of unscrewing the handle is something I also appreciate but in this case, I value the way the lid attaches to the base plate. It does so perfectly, securely and very satisfactorily. There's little that can be done to improve it. Paint it red, I suppose…
The head and comb have a stepped design that creates a compact yet well-defined shaving plane. This is due to the comb's positioning, which extends a little further than normal. The cap fits snugly where it meets the blade, creating a shaving plane with a slightly positive to quite positive exposure, depending on the blades used.
The safety bar has oval grooves that allow sufficient lubrication to reach the edge and it's a very fine comb. Even so, the grooved part that comes into contact with the skin is beveled to create a flat shaving surface between a well-defined edge and cap. It also has beautiful corners that taper as they curve from the side to the part that touches the skin. A very nice aesthetic detail in something as simple as the curve of a safety bar.
Score: 20 points
Material/Construction: 5
Finish: 5
Tolerances: 5
Head/comb shape: 5
Grip
The handle represents a continuation of Tatara's design style. These slender handles with rounded bases and dots have already been seen on the Masamune and Muramasa. The Nodachi has a longer handle because, as its name suggests, it represents a bigger cutting tool that requires a stronger grip.
Even so, the grip on this Amakuni doesn't benefit much from its inherited shape. The dots offer very little additional friction and the lack of a pommel and the only slightly longer length limit the different grip positions. What does help is the friction of the material and the bead blasted finish. This provides enough friction to grip the handle securely. Comfort is excellent. The material feels silky. Its lightness makes you want to handle and play with the razor. It's so light and compact that you can almost move it like a pen. This also translates into very good control. I've noticed that with this razor I haven't used a conventional grip but rather a pen grip, which is a combination of a conventional grip and a horizontal grip.
It's a grip where the rounded base of the handle always rested against the base of my fingers and I could grip it with three fingers just like I would a pen. I used this grip for all my passes and found it very comfortable. It's as if the razor were an extension of my fingers and it eliminates something we'll discuss in the handling section. Only below the jawline did I have to bring the handle closer to the skin but all the other passes went perfect with the pen grip. The glide of the head is also very good. Moving on to the shaving section, the shaving plane is very well designed. The comb extends slightly further than usual in this stepped configuration and the cap fits very well in height where it meets the blade. This creates a flatter shaving plane, which reduces the blade's cutting angle. Tatara states it's 29 degrees and I believe them. This provides a relatively smooth shave. The geometry of the shaving plane allows for a reduced cutting angle but also provides enough space for the blade to rest its bevel on the skin—something not all AC razors achieve, often only allowing you to use the very tip of the blade which, in turn, provides more blade feel.
The safety bar offers good grooves that allow sufficient lubrication to pass through. The cap, with its bead blasted finish, isn't the smoothest but only a narrow strip comes into contact with the skin. The reduced weight does the rest. Because there isn't much mass resting on the skin, this tool moves very easily, which benefits the glide.
Score: 19 points
Dry/Wet: 4
Comfort: 5
Control: 5
Head glide: 5
Handling
At 47 grams, the razor is incredibly light, although it doesn't feel like an aluminum razor. To be perfectly fair, an aluminum razor would weigh about 10 grams less and that makes a difference. But it's also important to know how this weight is distributed and that's where we find something worth highlighting.
The heads of AC razors, which position the blade above the handle, are very narrow. Combined with a low-density material, the weight of the head is minimal. In this case, it's quite noticeable that the head weighs almost nothing, which shifts the balance point towards the base of the handle. The balance point is located roughly halfway along the handle. And that's precisely the point where I grip the razor to use it. As I mentioned in the grip section, using the pen grip eliminates a few things I noticed. I felt the handle's shape didn't offer any additional grip. I solved that with the pen grip, which creates more points of contact with the skin where the material's friction can actually work.
And the second thing I noticed was the balance. With a conventional grip, there's a pendulum effect where the base of the handle starts to swing like a pendulum with movement because there isn't enough weight in the tip. By pulling the grip back with a pen-like grip, this pendulum effect is also eliminated. And a third benefit of the pen grip is that it gives the handle, which isn't particularly long, more length. With AC razors, you can achieve excellent edge trimming. The heads are compact and you can see what you're doing clearly... as long as the head is at a comfortable and ample distance from your fingers. With this pen grip, not only is the distance excellent but the head (and the blade) feel like an extension of your fingers, allowing you to trim without any problems.
Changing the blade is super convenient. I love these magnetic razors because they make changing the blade safe, easy and comfortable. Cleaning is also a breeze. There are no obstacles worth mentioning and the safety bar is very fine, allowing for easy cleaning with just a cloth or a towel. Everything is so convenient and practical. Completely zen.
Score: 19
Balance: 4
Weight: 5
Model: 5
Cleaning: 5
Shaving
My personal situation makes better use of the advantages and adapts more to the disadvantages of DE blades than AC blades. I have a thick, coarse beard. I also have concave surfaces below my jawline that benefit more from a shorter blade. Therefore, when I use a razor with AC blades, I always have to find the best way to make the most of its features.
With this Amakuni, that wasn't necessary. The first shave I had was the best I've had with an AC razor in a long time. I used a Feather Professional blade. This razor has a gap of 0.85 mm and an exposure of 0.06 mm with this blade. The gap allows you to apply some pressure and the exposure allows the blade to get close to the skin, creating that tight cutting angle. The result is a very good shave that even allows you to apply pressure to reach those hard-to-access areas and get a smooth, polished finish on almost every surface.
And things don't change much with the Feather Professional Super blade, although it adds an extra 0.25 mm of exposure. The shave is more efficient, if possible and obviously less forgiving but the razor allows you to take advantage of this added efficiency in a very controlled way. You can also achieve a perfect shave with this blade, although it's better to do touch-ups rather than applying the pressure that you can apply with the 0.25 mm less exposure of the less aggressive blade. As you'd expect, with a smaller head, it's much easier to reach all those tricky spots we want to shave. Under the nose, along the jawline, contouring, nostrils—everything becomes accessible. The only areas that are slightly less easy are those large, concave surfaces under the jaw I mentioned earlier. There, you have to maneuver the head more in line with the slope and you shave better in an X-shape than in a straight line.
The blade makes a difference, that's obvious and with many razors I find a very marked difference between blades that work better for me than others. With this Amakuni razor, the difference between blades still exists but the sensations it gives me are always of complete control. I never felt that with the least efficient blade I had to force it and I never felt that with the most efficient one I had to be more careful.
And it's not that you don't feel a big difference between the blades, because you definitely notice it. We're talking about an exposure of 0.06 mm or 0.31 mm. That's a significant difference. But the head gives you plenty of options to use that reduced cutting angle with the cap that fits snugly against the blade, or to use the safety bar if you don't want to use the shaving plane with the exposure included.
With the Professional blade, the entire shaving plane is very usable and the AC blade benefits from this limited exposure. The Professional Super also allows you to use the shaving plane but with a more pronounced blade feel. The best approach is to slightly adjust the angle to use riding the cap while maintaining that reduced cutting angle, or to use riding the bar to slightly increase the cutting angle and take greater advantage of the support. Many options, all with similar shaving potential. The only difference lies in the feel for those seeking something different. That noticeable exposure, whether with a standard blade or a more efficient one, means you have to be very careful with what you're doing. Also, the fact that it's so easy and comfortable to make passes with this razor can lead to an extra pass or touch-up and make your skin feel it afterward. I've even seen a few red spots on some shaves (with the Professional Super). It catches everything but it always tells you exactly what it's going to do and what it's doing.
Score: 19 points
Score: 5
Head control: 5
Blade: 5
Indulgent: 4
Quality/Price
The razor has a clean look with humble lines and no embellishments like a high-gloss finish or rococo details. If someone were to call it boring, I think one could make a case for that position. But considering everything we've seen, it contains within those simple, understated lines, the same efficiency and great potential that also the samurai possessed.
Small in size and weight, they didn't appear to be great warriors like the Vikings, for example but in hand-to-hand combat they were fearsome enemies with the potential to leave you with half your body broken and the other dismembered. Their small size hid the deadly potential they possessed.
But despite its small size, the price tag is hefty. 469 Euros for this titanium version. The stainless steel version weighs 88 grams and costs 239, half the price. For a razor with relatively few "difficult" parts to manufacture, it seems expensive to me. I understand it's made in Portugal and prices vary across Europe but it's still money and that affects the value it can deliver. The more it costs, the more impressive it has to be. I think it will sell well on the secondhand market. I've seen a few already appearing and it's not that old. Everyone has their reasons for selling, of course but I imagine that in hand, the razor seems more understated than other, flashier models. That could be a reason for selling. Its simple lines, small size and unassuming design don't do it any favors in that regard. I don't see it as a collector's item. I don't see it going up much in price, which is already high.
Could I live with this razor for the rest of my life? It's an AC razor... those have to be really good for me to give it a resounding "yes." The first thing I'll say is that I'm not giving it a "no." This razor works very well, it's very well made and it has a more usable geometry than other AC razors. And the reason it doesn't get 5 stars isn't the razor itself but the blade. AC blades simply aren't the ones that suit my preferences and needs. It's not the razor's fault; I love it.
Score: 17 points
Aesthetics: 5
Reward: 4
Value in 25: 4
Single razor: 4
Conclusion
This Amakuni Ti is a unique razor in the world of AC razors. Its aesthetic design, so closely linked to its Tatara family, its technical design with magnets and impeccable manufacturing and its geometric design that allows for a reduced cutting angle—something unusual in AC razors—make it truly special.
While I'm not a die-hard fan of AC razors, I can recognize their advantages and disadvantages and this Amakuni Ti has far more advantages than disadvantages. But it's hard to see that at first glance. When I took it out of its Portuguese cork box, it didn't look like much. No shine, a matte gray, a very simple "T" shape. Was this what Tatara had created as their first single-edge razor and with three aces up their sleeve already in their catalog?
Yes, it is and it's not what it seems. It's expensive, that's obvious. It's small, even a blind person can see that. It doesn't look like much. But this razor carries the Tatara name with pride. It will never be my favorite razor because the blades aren't but right now it's the best AC razor I've ever used and it didn't win me over with words, it won me over with performance. Tatara has earned the title of Peninsular Master Forger. Amakuni can be proud.
Final score: 94 points
