Combs

2022/09/01

Yukitaka Hihara

President of Tsubaki Co., Ltd. / 1965 Law

I have been manufacturing and selling camellia oil on Izu Oshima for 22 years. Our camellia oil is made using an unheated extra-virgin process using only domestic camellia oil to create skincare products. This time, I would like to consider boxwood combs and camellia oil from the perspective of skincare.

Originally, boxwood combs were developed for combing Japanese hairstyles. Styling Japanese hair takes at least one to two hours. In particular, maiko sleep on high pillows to keep their hair from getting messy and make the hairstyle last for about a week, which causes dandruff and dirt to come out of the scalp. To remove that dirt and provide moisture to the hair, boxwood comb teeth thinned to the limit and camellia oil were indispensable.

However, boxwood combs are meant for styling hair rather than the scalp, and concerns remain regarding hygiene. According to the latest research by our company and universities, new experimental results show that cleaning the scalp and moisturizing it with camellia oil is what grows healthy hair (scalp care). While boxwood combs and camellia oil are part of the beauty cultural heritage of Japan's good old days, they seem somewhat unsuitable for future hair care.

Yoshie Mizobe

Professor, Faculty of Economics, Keio University

While traveling in Taiwan, a person entered a cafe and opened the menu to find "櫛瓜義大利麺" written there. What kind of dish could it be? "櫛瓜 (Comb Melon) = Zucchini," "義大利 = Italy"—it refers to zucchini pasta. In Chinese-speaking households, zucchini has recently become established as a summer vegetable along with the spread of Italian cuisine. Generally, it is called "西葫蘆" on the mainland, "翠玉瓜" in Hong Kong, and "櫛瓜" in Taiwan. The formal name for zucchini is "夏南瓜," meaning it is originally a type of pumpkin. However, because the shape of a zucchini resembles the "節瓜 (Fuzzy Melon)," a type of winter melon, it came to be called "節瓜" or "櫛瓜," which has a similar character shape. It seems the notation "櫛瓜" is becoming established, perhaps to avoid confusion with the "節瓜." Unfortunately, it is currently a difficult time for free travel, but please try searching for "櫛瓜" online. You will likely see videos of delicious-looking dishes using zucchini, such as "櫛瓜炒肉絲 (Stir-fried Zucchini with Shredded Pork)."

Kayoko Takimoto

Professor, Faculty of Business and Commerce, Keio University

In Spain, there is a large decorative comb called a peineta, made of tortoiseshell, ivory, or metal and decorated with openwork. When inserted into styled hair and covered with a veil called a mantilla, it becomes the formal dress for Spanish women. It is an old Western European custom for women to cover their heads with a veil; in the Catholic Church, women must still wear a veil when having a formal audience with the Pope. Only Catholics of the highest rank, such as queens or princesses, are permitted to use a white veil, and a Spanish queen would also use a peineta.

The spread of combs and veils was triggered by the increased interest in ancient Roman decorative arts and architecture following the excavation of the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 18th century. It was discovered that ancient Romans adorned themselves with veils lifted by combs, and this became popular in Spain and France. However, it is no longer common in modern Spain and is rarely seen except for state events, weddings or funerals of royalty and noble families, or when foreigners visiting Spain dress up for a sense of cosplay.

Hiroyoshi Inoue

Professor, Department of Chemistry, School of Medicine, Keio University

Fukuoka City is divided into east and west by the Naka River flowing through the center of the city. The west side is the samurai town of "Fukuoka," and the east side is the merchant town called "Hakata." The guardian deity and grand tutelary of Hakata is Kushida Shrine. This Kushida Shrine is said to have been established in 757 by inviting the spirit of the Kushida Shrine located in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture. The origin of "Kushi" (comb) seems to come from the legend that Yamatohime-no-mikoto dropped a comb in this area, though the details are unclear. What makes Hakata's Kushida Shrine famous is the Kushida Shrine Gion Grand Festival, the so-called Hakata Gion Yamakasa. The city of Hakata becomes completely immersed in Yamakasa in early July.

On the other hand, my own memories are quite mundane. When I was little, I would just go shopping at the Fuchigami Department Store next to Kushida Shrine and visit the shrine on the way back. Also, when I was attending high school near Kushida Shrine (Fukuoka High School), I was asked to help carry the Yamakasa several times because they were short on "kakite" (carriers). However, as an adolescent high school student, the feeling of embarrassment at wearing the shimekomi (loincloth) outweighed the excitement. Even so, whenever I return to Hakata, I find myself naturally heading toward Kushida Shrine.