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View Full Version : More Bogu Advice. Sorry.



Wark 1978
27th October 2003, 12:15 AM
First off, thanks to everyone who has posted on this site. I'm fairly new hear and the info has been invaluable.

I'm in the market for my first set of bogu. I have read most of the threads and replies in this forum on bogu's as well as visited the websites of all the suppliers that people have left links to. The general consensus seems to be is to get the best stitched set for your budget.

I live and work in Japan as an English teacher and the sensei at my JHS said that they tend to get their kits from an ex student who works at "Hiroya". He said that the students normally pay about Y90,000 for their bogu. I looked at their catalogue and the only kit near to this price is a 6mm set (I have already put this in a post a few weeks back). Since then,a sensei at the private club I go to gave me a flyer for "Budo Suzuki" who sell hand made kits that are assembled in China using Japanese materials. They have a 2.0bu kit for Y69,000, a 1.3bu for Y89,000, a 1.2bu for Y106,000 and a 1.0bu kit for Y126,000. I have only seen this company mentioned once on this website, with the poster saying that the men was a bit stiff. Does anyone have any other reviews of their kits or service? - as the 2.0bu kit is within my price range at the moment.

Also, he gave me a flyer for Yokohama Bogu who have a 3mm machine stitched kit for Y79,000. My girlfriend telephoned them and this kit is part of the "Musashi Bogu" range made by Ogata Budo-gu Kougyou. She asked them if the kote were deer or cow and she was told that they had KURARINO inners (I imagine that this is clarino). I had not heard of this before so could someone please enlighten me as to what this means and if they are any good as well as if the company that makes the bogu are ok. Again, your advice would be appreciated.

I have looked through many companies websites and I don't think that these prices can be beaten. Obviously the price is an important factor but not as important as getting a good bogu.

Maybe this is only relevent to those of you who live in Japan, but the reason why the kit at Yokohama Bogu is cheap is because it is part of their new range which comes out on November 1st and there is a sale from then until December 28th. Some of their prices are;
Naka No.1 - 5mm machine stitched Y58,000 (new line)
Naka No.2 - 3mm machine stitched Y79,000 (new line)
20 x 3mm machine stitched bogu at Y98,000
10 x 2mm machine stitched bogu at Y120,000
plus many other accesories and bogu going at what look like great prices. The flyer I've got doesn't give a website or email address but the telephone is Japan 045-231-8185/045-241-3799 and fax 045-243-2140.

Sorry for the long mail but as this is going to be an investment for many years to come I want to make sure that I invest well. Your advice are help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Neil Gendzwill
27th October 2003, 01:34 AM
Clarino is the fake leather often used for trim on cheaper bogu. I believe the GZ-17 set Koei offers has clarino palms on the kote, several people here have bought the set and are happy. Koei offers discounted prices to customers outside of Japan through websites like bogubag.com. If you go through Koei direct when in Japan I'm not sure what price they offer, but it's worth contacting them and asking for a pricelist.

Tozando is currently offering a sale and they have several sets within your price range, check out http://tozando.com/eng/sale/kendobougu.html

Usually there is no discount for buying a complete set (ie add up the price for each piece and you get the set price). So buy the best men and kote you can afford, then buy a doh and tare from a cheaper set. You can always upgrade them later. For example, if you went with men 05-220 and kote 06-220 from Koei S-22 and doh 08-170 and tare 07-170 from GZ-17, you would pay $875 through bogubag, about 96000 yen. You would then have top-quality men and kote and a serviceable doh and tare.

Nobody I know has ever regretted buying better quality kote or men, but they often wish they had spent a little more on them.

Pichit
27th October 2003, 05:50 AM
Hi

I think in the same way as Neil-san that you should ask those bogu company directly like Koei, Mori and Mitsuboshi whehter can they give discount on some model of their bogu. I bought 5mm machine stitch from Mitsuboshi which they give very generous discount from 106000 to 55000 yen with postage to UK(without bogubag) as I email them for ask for discount.

Or why don't you go to local kendo shop and see for the price by yourself, I went to Japan last summer and many bogu in local bogu shop now have the price discount.

Wark 1978
2nd November 2003, 02:04 PM
Thanks for the advice guys.

I've been doing a lot of shopping around and at the moment I think that it's a choice between the 1.3bu handmade kit from Budo Suzuki or the suggestion that Neil made. Also, Tozando and Fukuda Budo have some kits on sale that I'm considering.

I went to the Budo Suzuki shop in Tokyo and was really impressed by the 1.3bu handmade kit, especially as it's only Y80,000. I also went to Yokohama Bogu and had a look at the new range of Musashi Bogu, in particular the 3mm machine stitched bogu priced also at Y80,000. The Budo Suzuki bogu looked and felt better than the Yokohama Bogu kit and it also has deer kote instead of clarino.

It's now decision time and knowing what I'm like at making decisions that is going to take a while.

Thanks again

Wark 1978

A P
6th November 2003, 12:04 AM
Hi

I think in the same way as Neil-san that you should ask those bogu company directly like Koei, Mori and Mitsuboshi whehter can they give discount on some model of their bogu. I bought 5mm machine stitch from Mitsuboshi which they give very generous discount from 106000 to 55000 yen with postage to UK(without bogubag) as I email them for ask for discount.

Or why don't you go to local kendo shop and see for the price by yourself, I went to Japan last summer and many bogu in local bogu shop now have the price discount.

Whatttt supppppppppppppppppppppppp!!!

And I thought that I was the only Thai person who is using this web.(JK)

How are you doing Pichit? I hope you are having a good time in London.

Because I am in the USA and life seem like hell at the moment. Mostly it is

because I many test and final project to do, Plus work.

OH!!! by the way my name in Chanon, from Nonthuburee, around

(Pa chaa ni vate 2 ra ya 3). That is where I grew up. I grew up with my

grandparents and my aunt. I never really get to live with my mom or dad.

They right now live in Bangkok, can't remember quit where :ermm: :ermm:

but I think they live by (Sa phun Pa ram 2, next exit) oh! ( Jhom Thoung )

Yeahhhh!!! I think that that is closer.

I am going to be going to kedo next week on Wed. I am very excited.

How long have you been taking kendo? What is it like in Euro??

Tell me okay...

Talk to you later dudeeeeee


AP