Okada Budogu (Hong Kong)

[PhilMcLaughlin]

I got an email from this supplier today

I have no idea if theyre any good or not but the site looks well organised enough

http://www.okada-budogu.com/News.asp?SupMenuID=0&MenuID=6025&SelectedID=1

FWIW

cheers

[Fonsz]

Your guess is as good as mine but the pages tried to infect my computer. My virus scanner had all the sirens out. So better take care.:eek::eek:

[shidokurisu]

Wow that white Bogu looks awesome... No virus problems here, but I have never heard of them or anything...

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Your guess is as good as mine but the pages tried to infect my computer. My virus scanner had all the sirens out. So better take care.:eek::eek:


Oh dear, Im behind the corporate firewall so didnt notice any local attacks
Thanks for the heads up !

[sirius1906]

Oh dear, Im behind the corporate firewall so didnt notice any local attacks
Thanks for the heads up !

Glad to see I am not the only one slacking off at work. :D Nice stuff they got there. But uh, I would buy from US distributors to save some shipping charge. :)

[tango]

$600 for a 3mm.... would that those prices existed 15 years ago!!!!

[tango]

heh..


Premium quality 1.5BU Hand Stitched Bogu

Production period is around 30 - 45 days



Wowzers... Chinese people work fast.

[sirius1906]

heh..


Premium quality 1.5BU Hand Stitched Bogu

Production period is around 30 - 45 days

Wowzers... Chinese people work fast.

It'll be done in 5 minutes if we can get all 1.3 billion people to work on it. :D

[sirius1906]

$600 for a 3mm.... would that those prices existed 15 years ago!!!!

Thanks to the cheap Chinese labor. (or is it Vietnamese now?)

You can't have that price if it's made in Japan. This is not shown in the English version, only in Chinese. $1540 for a 3mm. http://www.okada-budogu.com/catalog.asp?catid=15026&subcatid=13054

[H.Sandsleth]

I am sceptical to the chinese stuff because I don't want to support chinese child labour/sweatshops...if I buy something more expensive japanese it is a better possibility of a grown up making it under proper working conditions.

For instance, hand made bogu well under 1000usd (e-bogu)? Seven year olds slaving away...

[mingshi]

Same stuff here:-

http://www.zen-sankei.co.jp/

Had a Japanese sempai getting some new shinai from them earlier last month. Shipping is quick as it's local to us. As the shinai are from Japan I'd say they hit very well - speaking from the receiving end!!

They've a fair price - at least none of that handmade bogu under USD1000 - and for reference Kendoshop still has 3mm bogu set for USD 385...

Japanese shops also employ workers in China - so you'll never know who really stitched your bogu.

[H.Sandsleth]

Japanese shops also employ workers in China - so you'll never know who really stitched your bogu.Yes, but sometimes they will state where it is made. Or one could ask.

[mingshi]

Yes, but sometimes they will state where it is made. Or one could ask.

Then you'd have to believe that they're telling the truth!

[sirius1906]

I am sceptical to the chinese stuff because I don't want to support chinese child labour/sweatshops...if I buy something more expensive japanese it is a better possibility of a grown up making it under proper working conditions.

For instance, hand made bogu well under 1000usd (e-bogu)? Seven year olds slaving away...

Cheap labor doesn’t mean it’s child labor. We in the developed western countries have the luxury of criticizing the exploitation of cheap labor, child or not. The standard of living, price of goods, and value of labor in China is very different than what we are used to here. The US minimum wage of $5.85 can probably provide a decent living for the entire Chinese family in the country side. (Don’t quote me on this, just saying.) What we consider cheap labor may be better than the alternatives for the country side farmers. The definition of “fair wage” is relative.


I only care about my own pocketbook. If quality doesn't suffer, cheaper the better. :D
the only thing I am oppose is prison labor. because that's forced.

[H.Sandsleth]

Yes...I have no idea how the even the japanese can produce hand made bogu at the price they do, if it actually takes 1-2 months to make it.

[H.Sandsleth]

Cheap labor doesn’t mean it’s child labor. We in the developed western countries have the luxury of criticizing the exploitation of cheap labor, child or not. The standard of living, price of goods, and value of labor in China is very different than what we are used to here. The US minimum wage of $5.85 can probably provide a decent living for the entire Chinese family in the country side. (Don’t quote me on this, just saying.) What we consider cheap labor may be better than the alternatives for the country side farmers. The definition of “fair wage” is relative.


I only care about my own pocketbook. If quality doesn't suffer, cheaper the better. :D
the only thing I am oppose is prison labor. because that's forced.
All this is a matter of personal political beliefs, so it was maybe wrong of me to bring it up.. I don't want a kid to sew my bogu, even if this kid feeds his whole family by doing so. Also I don't want people to work day and night in factories. I don't care about cultural differences etc in this matter. And I am more than willing to pay a increase in price if this is avoided.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Blimey, its only a bogu shop !

as for where the elements are sourced from, its unlikely that child labour is used to make bogu (think about it)

a lot of 'Japanese' made armour is assembled from sections made in china and taiwan as far as i know

all the best

phil..

[Kagerou]

Yes...I have no idea how the even the japanese can produce hand made bogu at the price they do, if it actually takes 1-2 months to make it.

Think about it. In most cases they own their shop and live above it. All they have to pay for is utilities and food. They don't need that much money. In some cases most of the family works their so labour is cheap. As for the 1-2 month thing...that depends on how busy they are. If you watch these people they're fast! If you ever get to see one of them string a shinai you'll feel like you're all thumbs the next time you try it.

[Talon]

I bought a bogu set from Okada Budogu earlier this year and i'm quite satisfied with the items that I got. The craftmanship is good. If I remember correctly they're the HK affiliate of a Japanese bogu shop. Their rates are reasonable and their customer service is friendly and top notch.

[D'Artagnan]

I don't want a kid to sew my bogu...

Why on Earth not?! they are the only ones who have small enough hands for intricate stitching...

[H.Sandsleth]

:laugh:...the worst thing is that it is possible true..

[DCPan]

Why on Earth not?! they are the only ones who have small enough hands for intricate stitching...

Problem is, with such small hands, they probably don't have the strength to push the round needle through. :D

[JSchmidt]

Problem is, with such small hands, they probably don't have the strength to push the round needle through. :D

That's actually not too far from the truth..