“Takumi No Waza” – Japan's famous Green Bell Nail Clippers | Hacker News Reader

“Takumi No Waza” – Japan's famous Green Bell Nail Clippers

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44 pointskizunajp61 comments

> I think that in life the small things matter a lot.

+1 to this, especially small, durable things that you use often. I currently regret buying certain kitchen instruments for function over form. I've known since I bought them that they kind of looked bland, but they did the job, functionally and at a good price. Now that I've had to use them for more than 10 years, I sometimes wish that they'd break down so that I could justify to myself a new purchase.

I can definitely understand the attraction of a luxury version of regular nail clippers. But my problem with nail clippers isn't generally the quality, it's just the overall design. In my mind, "flush cutters" made for electronics are a much better design for nail cutting than traditional nail clippers.

If you really want to go extreme, you can buy a little stone or diamond lap and hit the edges from time to time to keep them super sharp.

I agree, I never use the normal style. Check out Tweezerman cuticle nippers. They're more versatile, and they work better for nails IMO. These are the real "luxury" nail clippers.

Of course, nails generally want to have a curved shape, so a straight blade isn't the ideal match for that. I bevel corners two or three times to "round" them.

That’s what nice manicure sets have in them too. That said I still start with decent clippers then switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Stainless-Steel-Piece-Manicur...

This is blogspam, right down to the Amazon referral code.

Am I the crazy one?

There is no referral code on the post. The ASIN is just there so anyone can find the item easily on their country's Amazon site.

As we've written in our About page, this is a labor of love and we don't make any money from posts :)

https://one-from-nippon.ghost.io/about/

The Amazon links have a ref parameter:

  https://www.amazon.com/G-1<deliberatelybrokenlink>16XRCYN?ref=one-from-nippon.ghost.io

You are right. My apologies, @flir.

It looks like Ghost adds the referrer information despite me trying to strip off as much as I could from the URL. I have removed the links altogether from the post. Thank you for pointing this out.

I also apologise, my tone was completely wrong. If you're genuinely just writing about cool stuff you've found, I can't see the problem with an Amazon referral link (it's way less offensive that youtube monetization). I was just surprised to see it on HN.

ref= isn't a referral code, tag= is, ironically

> This is blogspam

Blogspam from where?

I can take the standard $0.89 "GEM" clipper to my nails, squeeze them until the handles touch, and they won't go through my nails. Mentioned this to a friend at work, who showed me his "Seki" (now I know where they got the name!) ones, got one, and WOW, so sharp, instantly go through my nails with no problem. Totally Worth It(TM).

Anyone have experience with these nail clippers? I generally buy into the philosophy that it's better to spend more money on a nice object with a superior design and a longer lifespan. But I only see two differentiating features for these clippers:

1. A rounded file that matches natural nail shape.

2. "The highly polished blades cut nails with minimal force, even on thick nails."

I don't file my nails (should I start?). I've never had issues cutting through nails with anything but the smallest travel nail clippers. So what exactly differentiates these nail clippers from the $5-10 pairs you see at drugstores?

Sounds like you might not need it. My fingernails seem to be unusually tough, so this intrigues me. The no-brand clippers often have trouble with them, and the one time I had an in-grown toenail the doctor had to get a stronger pair of cutters.

Filing-wise, I find it helps even any minor issues out after cutting them, but it's not essential.

I'd like to know that as well. Lot's of seemingly Japanese artisan things are actually cheap chinese manufactured goods with online marketing.

That said, living in Taiwan and having been to Tokyu Hands a few times I can say that there are walls of nailclippers with some more fancy than others.

Looking at the Green Bell website it looks like your "average" japanese brand that would find it's way to the Tokyu Hands shelf. The average brand there seems much better than the average American brand though.

It's the best pair of clippers I've ever owned.

> I generally buy into the philosophy that it's better to spend more money on a nice object with a superior design and a longer lifespan.

Not the Japanese ones in particular, but a few years ago when I needed a new clipper I purchased a No-Mes clipper and I've been quite satisfied with it. It's just starting to get a bit dull, and I'm going to send it back for a new one because of their guarantee.

[1] https://nomesnailclipper.com/

I have a simple pair of Japanese nail clippers [2] that I bought at Narita 20+ years ago (less nice than OP), but still sharp and they cut through nails so much smoother and with less pressure than any American clippers I have seen or used.

Sure, you can you a $2 knife for cooking, but it’s just nicer and easier using a quality instrument. Even if you don’t go for top of the line just doubling the quality from bottom of the barrel is a big improvement.

I just ordered a pair of these clippers. I’d say these aren’t luxury by any means, just quality middle of the road clippers.

I got an award a few years ago and used my points to pick up a Wusthof manicure set [1]. That’s what a luxury set of tools looks like and it cost around $300.

That said I still start by trimming my nails with the Japanese nail clippers I bought all those years ago.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Stainless-Steel-Piece-Manicur...

[2] Similar simple design to these. https://www.amazon.com/JapanBargain-2697-Japanese-Clipper-Cu...

I’ve had a pair of them for a decade or so, sold in the US under the “Swki Edge” brand but made by Green Bell (not sure if it’s their top-of-the-line variant, though). Very sharp and effective (they cut your nails rather than crush or shatter them), definitely recommended.

For travel, the compact Zwilling ones (made in Japan, not Germany, probably also by Green Bell) fold and lock down into a tiny package and are also great.

I own and use one of those nail clippers and I would say it is worth the money. The ergonomics are really exceptional, all those rounded areas have a purpose + it is fairly heavy, which combined give you great control while clipping. Then it is just as sharp as on the first day (using it for more than 6 yeas), which sets it apart to my previous clippers which got blunt after a year or two. The blade also seems to have just the right curvature so that you reach a really nice round shape with 3-5 clips. Last I love that it looks a little like a Shinkansen.

Few years ago I bought left handed nail scissors.

In scissors the blades do not touch each other (what in my opinion is a problem when cutting nails), but there is a feeling of more control than when using nail clippers.

But in order to cut the right hand I need left handed scissors.. which seem to be so rare.

The article about Kitkats in Japan is also interesting https://one-from-nippon.ghost.io/an-unusual-lucky-charm/

Not the same pair, but 20 years ago I visited Japan and I still own and use the nail clippers that I purchased when I was there. The brand are called ten star. I was 15 when bought those 20 years ago. I have tried to find other nail clippers, and nothing has ever beat this 20+year old cheap pair. They are strong and sharp and collect the debris perfectly. Never thought I'd still have these nail clippers and beyond photos, its all thats left from that trip to Japan..

Funny, I'm still using the nail clipper that I bought in Japan almost 30 years ago and they're the best I've ever owned. They're also not the brand mentioned in the article; I just picked them up in a convenience store (asking in my broken Japanese, "Have you tool to cut fingernails?")

I've never like the cute little cartoon house and sun design printed on the of them, but they're definitely of high quality, and I worry I'll never find as good a pair again.

So the material looks identical with other grocery store clippers. I guess the curved file was slightly nicer? I mean my $2 clipper has served me 2 years without hints of becoming dull anytime soon. I don't understand the appeal of this other than its exotic Japanese background.

I bought one of the Japanese clippers - I don’t remember if it was this. There are many different types of steel with different tradeoffs. They were so sharp that I would regularly cut a chunk of my skin off that grocery store clippers would have just.. squished. Not sure if it was worth it or not but they are certainly different than $2 clippers

It says it's stainless steel, IME the cheap ones, cracker ones etc. are chrome/zinc/something plated steel; they rust.

I own these. The experience using them is substantially better than using grocery store clippers. The cutting edges meet very precisely and firmly so I get a very clean cut with relatively low pressure every time. There is very little "give" in the lever, so with my relatively thick nails, there is never a bend as I apply more pressure.

It's interesting that there are so many things like this in Japan where they seem to go into an incredible amount of detail. Sometimes, waaayyy more than what might really be needed.

Is a 13 dollar nail clipper really all that much different than the one that costs a dollar?

Well, it shouldn't. But considering the crap available for a dollar and nail clipper are not like monthly expense I have usually gone with some Japanese nail clipper. Not the same brand though.

Sometimes paying a lot more to get a "for life" item is great... if it really is "for life", and if it's the only cost you'll have.

Sadly, in the last few years many of once very good and reliable brands have gone so downhill, that it's just not worth it. Not sure about nailclippers, but electronics are sometimes not worth the extra price of branding and supposedly higher quality, that isn't.

Well I’m sold, I am tired of crappy clippers, and have plenty of complaints.

There’s categories of products where the market is flooded with minimum quality choices because most people are satisfied with the cheapest option.

And if I find more expensive options I hesitate to purchase because I suspect that it is just a repackage of a minimum quality product.

Even in this case I am wondering if I order these, will I get the real deal, or a cheap knock off? I will order these though.

I've never understood how can people trim their nails with nail clipper compared to manicure scissors, I use one with fairly narrow and sharp tip so I can precisely follow curvature of fingernail which is especially handy for ring where I have almost 90 degree angles between top part and sides. Can you really trim already fairly short nails with clippers especially if they are curved a lot? I can see how they can work for fairly straight and long nails, but the whole mechanism seems too big to come really close to skin.

They make ones without curve and etc just look at a catalog…

During the height of the pandemic, my girlfriend and I bought clippers, nail nippers and cuticle nippers from Suwada. These are self-described as "luxury nail care", with prices to match. They are definitely the nicest nail tools I've ever owned.

https://suwadalondon.co.uk/collections/london-nail-nippers

Wow, so when the OP goes "oooh these are so luxurious" at $13, you hit us with £65 (~$80) for nail clippers?! Yowza.

I bought a Seki Edge Grooming kit through Mass Drop a few years ago. Out of all the junk that I bought from Mass Drop, these nail clippers are the only things I still use. It is easily the best thing I have gotten through them. I bought a second pair in case the first one breaks.

https://drop.com/buy/seki-edge-grooming-kit

I've always been a "Buy expensive to last" type person. That doesn't always work for everything, but it does work for stuff like this.

One place it doesn't work is razors. I've never been so happy with expensive razors and cartridges as I am with my simple, cheap handle and double-edged razors. But then, I do spend the few extra cents each for the good blades, so maybe it does work after all.

I use disposables, and have for decades. They are the three-blade ones.

There's a popular theory, called the "Sam Vimes Boots Theory," that applies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory

I once had a bad infected ingrown nail from using clippers, doc told me use scissors, and I haven't looked back since. No infections, no clippings flying all over, and less of a need to file because you do the whole nail, along its natural curve, in one continuous cut.

That brings back a childhood memory of using my mom's good sewing/fabric scissors to cut my nails because I couldn't find the nail clippers.

Sorry mom but scissors are so much better than nail clippers

Yep I don't understand how anyone can stand using clippers. Maybe with degraded dexterity or something but good nail scissors seem so much better.

Once a month clipping? I can go about 10 days before my fingernails start looking and feeling dirty.

Cutting nails is for shortening them, not cleaning them; while a month may be on the long side, definitely I try to clean under my nails daily and usually do more extensive cleaning with a nail brush (or toothpick, if I'm out of town) at least once a week.

I mean that after about a week, my nails are long enough that daily life makes them dirty enough that they need cutting. Shorter nails get less dirty.

You might be one of the "lucky" folks whose nails grow faster than average, then. That said, the article suggesting cutting once a month seems a bit on the long side to me, too.

maybe different beauty standards, from my life in China I remember men keeping fairly long nails before trimming them and many keep one fingernail like on pinky extra long to use as tool (you don't wanna know the most common use)

for me it's 2-2.5 weeks before it become uncomfortable to type on keyboard or use touch screen, dirtyness is not really an issue, just wash hands/nails properly (it probably helps to do office job from home instead manual labor)

That struck me too, I'm doing it around once a week!

It's fun to hear about high quality products, especially in segments you don't normally put a lot of thought into, but this is not somebody's story about their favorite nailclipper. This is a straight up ad.

Anyone aware of a list of these sorts of niche unusually high quality items?

Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools maybe? Not even sure if it's still extant.

Not exactly a list but /r/buyitforlife is a collection of well built products.

I buy very expensive German scissors for my nail care.

Nails are serious business.

Well now I'm curious. What brand?

Solingen is the German town that specializes in knives of all types.

There are several brands from there which make all sorts of nail/cuticle scissors.

Another great post! I’m already subscribed to the newsletter and getting to know these relatively unknown Japanese products is super interesting.

I'm looking for a non-curved straight edge cutter... they have one for $17, ouch. decisions decisions.

I've got a pair of kai toenail clippers, been using them about half a year. I like them.

> Everyone has a nail clipper.

No I don't. The first sentence is already a lie. :-)

Found the Linux user.

Take my money

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