OSAKURA from TAIWAN

[henrique_m]

Hi ,

anybody knows this shop from taiwan? can you tell me if they have a website or email?

thanks,
H

[DCPan]

http://kendostyle.com/whoiske.html

Please note that just because I posted this link doesn't mean I endorse their products or know them.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Sure is tough to know if their products are worth it from that horrible website.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

any clue on "carbonized shinai" ?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Nope. I also don't know what size a 200 cm keikogi is, nor what a 3 mm handstitched bogu is, not to mention what it looks like.

[Kenzan]

;284558']any clue on "carbonized shinai" ?

mmMMMmmmmmmmm.......caramelized shinai........
:square::square::square:

[DCPan]

Nope. I also don't know what size a 200 cm keikogi is

It refers to wearer's height, kind of like the old sizing chart, which doesn't take into account the wearer's girth.

I think somebody told me that they do that because Korean and Japanese stores use a different numbering system.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

And the 1 bu keikogi... weird.... anyway, I´ve heard that hand-made keikois have a different pattern of stitching...

...one more thing, what is a compressed shinai for suburi.

[DCPan]

;284574'] I´ve heard that hand-made keikois have a different pattern of stitching...

Hand-made keiko-gi differs in the distance between the stitched bumps, allowing a softer feel.


;284574']
...one more thing, what is a compressed shinai for suburi.

Compressed bamboo...you can find the same thing at e-bogu and other vendors.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

...and compressed bamboo is a more dense bamboo ??

[Neil Gendzwill]

It refers to wearer's height, kind of like the old sizing chart, which doesn't take into account the wearer's girth.

I think somebody told me that they do that because Korean and Japanese stores use a different numbering system.Yeah, but the size gaps are huge - 10 cm between each size? That's probably 2 whole sizes in the normal sizing system.

[DCPan]

http://www.e-bogu.com/Suburi_Shinai_Bokken_p/hay-ken-bok-shin-bok.htm

[DCPan]

Yeah, but the size gaps are huge - 10 cm between each size? That's probably 2 whole sizes in the normal sizing system.

I guess they don't do half sizes...I was honestly never a big fan of o-sakura.

Sizing Chart
http://www.eguchi.net/c-1090.html

Lord West is also OEM for Christian Dior for Tuxs...that doesn't mean the Lord West line is equivalent to Christian Dior.

Similarly, just because Chun-Te did work for Tozando and others doesn't mean their own bogu line is the same.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

http://www.e-bogu.com/Suburi_Shinai_Bokken_p/hay-ken-bok-shin-bok.htm

WOAH!.... I thought you were taking about this one (http://www.e-bogu.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=HAY%2DKEN%2DSHI%2DSUB URI%2D4) ...I think I´ll stick to my suburi-to... thc for the answers, ignorance is a bitch.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Hmm, so I guess 10 cm height difference is 1 size then. $300 is pretty cheap for tezashi keikogi.

[Kenzan]

Sure is tough to know if their products are worth it from that horrible website.

I was thinking to myself: "Man, that a pretty harsh thing for Neil to write!"



..Then I saw the website...
:confused:

[Neil Gendzwill]

Well, I was going to originally say "suck-ass website" but that wouldn't be very nice.

[kanyil]

I have had dealings with Osakura on numerous occasions and I find them to be a reasonably good supplier for the low to mid price range market. They are a very good source of shinai at very reasonable prices and stocks one of the largest range of shinais I've seen anywhere (including Japan).

That being said, I bought my bogu from Chibabogu. I also bought my Gi and Hakama from elsewhere. DCPan has a point here. Also, I find their indigo dye to be a little on the purple side for my taste.

I have a few of their "smoked shinai", which are of good quality (I did have the luxury of browing through their vast stock to find the few that felt "right" to me). In any case, at prices offered, it's a steal.

Compressed shinai - it's basically your bokuto, made out of compressed shinai fiber instead of wood and dressed up like a shinai (i.e. a solid shinai). I've got one, it's kinda cute. Goes without saying that it's not meant to be used in jigeiko.

Unless things have changed, I am not sure whether they have any ability to deal with people who does not know Chinese.

Agreed that the website is not the best. But don't be so harsh - the website for Koei and Moribudo is also fairly basic. To be frank, most older-generation Kendo folks tend to be the more traditional type - I am guessing that the website is set up by the son who is working towards being the 2nd generation boguya-san for Osakura. We've begged him many times to take their shinais online so overseas Kenshis can buy it.

[DCPan]

We've begged him many times to take their shinais online so overseas Kenshis can buy it.

You can get them here, as I believe Jeff works with the same supplier.
http://www.maruyamakendosupply.com/main.sc

[kanyil]

Hey I know Jeff - he use to be a member of Songshan Dojo and still visits when he's in town. Very nice guy and very pleasant to deal with.