For barbers and grooming enthusiasts in Malaysia who care about clean fades and sharp lines, Panasonic has a new tool worth a look. The company has brought THE BARIKAN, its professional grooming range, to the local market, and the first product to arrive is the ER-XT70 T-Shaped Trimmer.
THE BARIKAN goes on sale in Malaysia from 15 July 2026 at a recommended retail price of RM699, finished in gold. The range has already rolled out in Japan, Europe and the United States, and Panasonic is now expanding it across Southeast Asia, with Malaysia among the early markets.
The name is a nod to history. “Barikan” is the Japanese word for hair clippers, and it is believed to date to the Meiji era, when European clippers first reached Japan.
Built around a clearer view
The ER-XT70 uses what Panasonic calls its slimmest neck design to date, which opens up the view of the cutting area. For a barber, that matters most on the fiddly work: clean lines, smooth fades and detailing around the ears and hairline, where seeing the blade clearly is half the job.
What is inside
The trimmer pairs 45-degree Japanese stainless-steel blades with a high-torque motor that runs at up to 8,000 RPM. Panasonic says the combination cuts through dense, thick hair with less pulling and resistance, and the blade tips are rounded for a gentler finish on the skin. Speed is adjustable, so users can trade raw power for finesse depending on the cut.
Key features Panasonic lists for the ER-XT70:
- Slim-neck profile for a clearer view while detailing
- 45-degree Japanese stainless-steel blades with a high-torque motor
- Precision rounded blade tips for a gentler cut
- Adjustable speed settings
Why Panasonic is chasing the barber crowd
The fade, with its tapered gradient from short sides to a longer top, has become one of the most requested cuts worldwide, and barbers have gained visibility along with it. Panasonic has been making professional clippers for more than 40 years, drawing on the engineering behind its electric shavers. The company says its clippers and trimmers have ranked first in professional use among hairdressers and barbers in Japan, Germany, France and Italy for nine straight years since 2016. It is also working with MR.BROTHERS CUT CLUB, a Japanese barbershop brand, to build ties with the barbering community.
“THE BARIKAN embodies Panasonic’s philosophy of Japanese Quality, where craftsmanship, precision and attention to detail come together,” said Keisuke Nishida, Managing Director of Panasonic Malaysia.
Price and availability
The Panasonic THE BARIKAN ER-XT70 T-Shaped Trimmer is available in Malaysia from 15 July 2026 at RM699, in a gold finish.
The takeaway
At RM699, this is priced as a professional tool rather than a casual home trimmer. It is aimed squarely at barbers and serious grooming enthusiasts who want Japanese-made precision for detail work, and it is the opening move in what Panasonic plans to grow into a fuller professional range here.