Sanjo Industry

  The word "Raxa" used in the Japanese word "Rasha Kiribasami" (Japanese scissors) comes from the pre-modern Portuguese word "Raxa" which means "felt" (fabric). This word is actually no longer used in Portugal. The Japanese kanji used to represent the word "raxa" reads "netting" and "silk gauze", but neither properly represents what the word actually means very well. Raxa material is actually a thick and heavy wool fabric which is closely knit or woven.

  Raxa fabric materials were readily used for winter clothing before the Second World War, but are now considered to be out of fashion and obsolete, but the name still lives on to today. It is unknown exactly when Raxa scissors which are indispensable to western fabric were actually introduced to Japan, but many claim it to be the beginning of the Meiji era. (1868-1912) As baggy trousers called "Danbukuro" which were made from heavy materials were known to exist during the Bunkyu era (1861-1864). Therefore it is believed that western tailors may have brought over Raxa scissors to Japan even a bit earlier than the noted beginning of the Meiji era.

  At the time, Raxa kiribasami's were used to cut heavy fabric, but they were considered to be very big and heavy. Not very user-friendly for Japanese tailors. Yoshida Yajyurou is known as the person whom improved the Raxa kiribasami for Japanese tailors. Yajyurou was born in 1859 in Tokyo to farming equipment blacksmiths, and became an apprentice swordsmith at the age of 12. When sword making was banned due to the Meiji Restoration, Yajyurou became Japan's first Raxa kiribasami blacksmith and his disciples and apprentices have continued on his trade ever since.

  In Sanjo, the blacksmithing of Raxa Kiribasami (Japanese textile scissors) are said to be introduced by a blacksmith who moved to Sanjo from the city of Shibata sometime during the Taisho era. (1912-1926)