Panasonic launches The Barikan as new series of pro hair clippers to take on the global market

Panasonic Corporation (https://holdings.panasonic/global/) announced that its Living Appliances and Solutions Company (Panasonic) has launched The Barikan as its newest series of professional clippers for hair and beauty practitioners to accelerate its development of a global market. The professional T-shaped trimmer ER-XT70 emphasizing superior cutting performance and ease-of use will be released in September in Japan and Europe as the first model of the series.

Panasonic’s involvement in professional hair clippers began 40 years ago, making use of its advanced technological capabilities refined through the development of electric shavers. Women hairdressers in particular highly appreciate Panasonic’s hair clippers for their quality and usability as tools for professionals, especially key features such as their lightness, ease of use, and precision cutting, allowing the brand to gain a top share in Japan and Europe (Germany, France, and Italy).

In recent years barbers have built up their influence and presence with the widespread acceptance of fade hairstyles for men in which the hair tapers down from the top of the head and is clipped short on the sides and nape. Panasonic has intensified its product development and marketing activities for barbers in response to this. The company provides simply the best tools that support barbers to thrive and fully express themselves while staying in tune with barber culture. Panasonic is opening up new demand for barbers beyond Japan and Europe in places like the United States and Asia, expanding sales in the global market.

These efforts seek to create a fusion of Japanese barber culture with those of other countries and build up collaborations with other industries, aiming to create new value for barbers. One such initiative is to train barbers in Ghana in cooperation with Mr. Brothers Cut Club, a Japanese barber shop that is redefining the timeless charm of classic American barber culture in a contemporary style and taking it worldwide. Panasonic has also signed ambassador agreements with the respective leading barbers of the original trend-setter, the United States, of Europe with its diverse sophisticated barber cultures in each country, and of Japan, the country where The Barikan was developed. Promotion content created in these three regions will be released worldwide.

Panasonic intends to expand The Barikan series over the next three years to make it the globally recognized number one brand for barbers.

Outline of The Barikan, a new series of professional hair clippers

Barikan is a term unique to Japan for the device internationally known as hair clippers. It comes from the name of a French company, Bariquand et Marre, that popularized hair clippers in Japan in the late nineteenth century; Bariquand was mistakenly taken to be the name for this tool. The arrival of manual hair clippers from Europe in the Meiji period marked a major change in the hair grooming culture of Japan. Panasonic chose the name The Barikan to reflect this transformation with its own updating of electric hair clippers and to spread Japanese barber culture worldwide. The intention is to create a brand that is trusted by barbers around the world by delivering value only a Japanese manufacturer can provide, backed by the company’s emphasis on Japanese craftsmanship and Japanese barber culture.

Key features of the new products

The Barikan T-shaped trimmer ER-XT70 offers all-access visibility and powerful cutting performance. The superior visibility makes it easy to trim precisely for fade hairstyles and in fine areas like the forehead and around the ears. Panasonic’s originally designed and produced 45-degree angled blade cuts even thick hairs smoothly.

1. T-shaped trimmer for precise cutting with high visibility

The slim-neck shape makes it easier to create fade styles and target fine areas like the forehead and around the ears. It is designed so that the user can monitor their work to safely ensure the best finish.

2. Japanese-made high-performance blades for powerful cutting

The 45-degree angled blades and high-speed motor are both originally developed and produced by Panasonic to ensure smooth cutting even for thick hairs.* The precision machining gentle on the skin allows users to perform fine styling with peace of mind.

* Evaluated for the hairs of Asian people, which at approximately 0.08 millimeters are considered to be around 1.5 times as thick as those of people of European descent.

3. Switching between two power levels to freely adjust the final finish

Users can switch between different power levels according to the style and where they are cutting.

4. Ergonomic design easy to hold and move

The finger rest design makes angled cutting easier.

The history of Panasonic’s professional hair clipper business

Panasonic entered the business of making hair clippers aimed at professionals in 1982, utilizing its engineering and knowledge refined through its shaver business that began with the sale of the MS10, Japan’s first electric shaver, in 1955. It offers products designed to meet the needs of professionals.
The ER300 was the first professional model to be released in Europe, in 1982. Women hairdressers in particular highly appreciate Panasonic’s hair clippers for being light, easy to use, and going exactly where the user wants. The company has grown into a manufacturer that has acquired a top share in Japan, Germany, France, and Italy.

The Barikan, the latest series launched in 2025, will go beyond core markets in Japan and Europe to gain traction in the United States, the trend setter for barber culture, and from there expand to Asia and worldwide.

About MR.BROTHERS CUT CLUB

MR.BROTHERS CUT CLUB is a barbershop rooted in Japan that reimagines classic American barber culture. Since opening its first location in Harajuku, Tokyo in 2015, the brand has expanded to Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and internationally to cities such as Los Angeles and Singapore. As a cultural hub, MR.BROTHERS CUT CLUB continues to redefine the value of barbershops as centers of lifestyle and creativity.

Barber Training Initiative in Ghana

In collaboration with the NPO CLOUDY, which has been working to create employment opportunities in Ghana since 2010, MR.BROTHERS CUT CLUB launched the “CLOUDY × MR.BROTHERS CUT CLUB” BARBER ACADEMY in Accra, the capital of Ghana, in 2024. This initiative aims to promote and develop barber culture while also fostering employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth. Future plans include supporting graduates in opening their own shops and providing opportunities to work abroad. Panasonic has joined the initiative in 2025 by supplying clippers and other tools to support the academy’s activities.

About Panasonic Corporation

Panasonic Corporation offers products and services for a variety of living environments, ranging from homes to stores to offices and cities. There are five businesses at the core of Panasonic Corporation: Living Appliances and Solutions Company, Heating & Ventilation A/C Company, Cold Chain Solutions Company, Electric Works Company and China and Northeast Asia Company. The operating company reported consolidated net sales of 3,584.2 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2025. Panasonic Corporation is committed to fulfilling the mission of Life Tech & Ideas: For the wellbeing of people, society and the planet, and embraces the vision of becoming the best partner of your life with human-centric technology and innovation. Learn more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/global/about.html

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