leather

[Sentunim]

Should the leather parts on the shinai be washed or not? If so, how?

[Halcyon]

Should the leather parts on the shinai be washed or not? If so, how?
nope. don't wash them. just enjoy them as they turn bluer and bluer. in fact, in all likelihood, they'll outlast your shinai, and then you can use them when you buy just the bamboo set of the shinai.

[Sentunim]

Hmm, I noticed that. Why do they turn blue as opposed to black. I dont have any unifrom or anything anf the hing still turns blue.

[Yzakj]

Hmm, I noticed that. Why do they turn blue as opposed to black. I dont have any unifrom or anything anf the hing still turns blue.

From contact with other peoples equipment, the indigo transfers everywhere, try rubbing people and you'll turn blue! BTW, when you get uniform, everything you have will be blue, parts of your house too.

[Sentunim]

That will be cool, unless I ruin a carpet or something, that would suck.

[mystic_kendoka]

for me only the blade side of the shinai goes blue, my handle just goes black from sweat...

so i think for some cases, the blueness comes from the dye on other people's men.