Dumb Question number one

[caseyvill]

This will end up being part of a series of dumb questions as i try to learn everything.

What is the Writing just above the Tsuba in kanji and what does it mean?

thanks in advance
KC

[verissimus]

"Pointy end goes into opponent."

Actually I think it's just the manufacturer's name.

[Moonrise]

"This side towards enemy."

Iie. It's the manufacturer's name, in most cases, and maybe the name of the model.

[b8amack]

Depends on the shinai. They're usually model names, or budo bon mots that mask as model names.

Assuming you're talking about the same place I think you're talking about. Post a pic, and I'm sure many of the kanji nerds (of which I am one) will be happy to provide a translation.

[Kendoka]

Depends on the shinai. They're usually model names, or budo bon mots that mask as model names.

Assuming you're talking about the same place I think you're talking about. Post a pic, and I'm sure many of the kanji nerds (of which I am one) will be happy to provide a translation.
Yep .

[Raindrop]

If you take a picture if yours, there are plenty of Kanji-knowledgable entities on this forum that might be willing to help :)

[rfoxmich]

"Hast thou slain the jabberwock my son?"

[Big One]

Just a Japanese disclaimer said : "you no sue me"

[Tort-Speed]

Or, "the only dumb question is the one not asked."

[caseyvill]

Thanks for all the crazy suggestion ^^ and all the help

[Neil Gendzwill]

It reads "drink Coca-Cola".

PS Welcome to Kendo World. Are you with Manitoba Kendo Club or University of Winnipeg?

[caseyvill]

I'm at the U of W with Namba Sensei.
Its pretty great I've been there for about a month now.

And thanks for the welcoming^^

[Neil Gendzwill]

You're in good hands with Corie. Hope you're still around next fall so we can say hi at the Winnipeg seminar. Is Bryn still training with you guys?

[caseyvill]

Ya he is still there, real nice guy, him and Adam helped me out so much.


O and ill be there (and hopefully not suck still...)

[SDK]

Thanks for all the crazy suggestion ^^ and all the help

It is the tadayoshi shinai from Aoi. I have the same one, but it seems that they have changed the font slightly from the picture displayed on their website: http://www.budo-aoi.com/kendo/shinai/01_tadayoshi.asp.

Btw, I stopped by Aoi the other day with some friends to pick up some stuff and buy a new jissengata shinai, and was informed that a 30% increase in the shinai prices is right around the corner. They will only continue the prices they have now as long as the current stock lasts.

[b8amack]

Yeah, they've been getting pricier here, as well.

[caseyvill]

aww man that stinks but i guess i wont need anything for a while

how long will this shinai last me few years??

[b8amack]

Depends a lot on you. Three years might be some fabulous optimism, for your first shinai. Shinai, as sports equipment go, are still pretty cheap, regardless. I spend more on tennis balls in a month than I do on shinai, usually.

[D'Artagnan]

Yeah, they've been getting pricier here, as well.

I'm afraid the fact is they will be getting pricier everywhere... there is a something of complex situation involving the Chinese factories that produce 90% of the world's shinai...

[sirius1906]

it'll last you a life time if you don't keiko. :p seriously, it depends on a lot of factors. just keep up the routine maintenance for the shinai, you'll be all right. I would stick with the inexpensive practice shinai, as a beginner.

[sirius1906]

I'm afraid the fact is they will be getting pricier everywhere... there is a something of complex situation involving the Chinese factories that produce 90% of the world's shinai...
Did the pandas eat all the bamboo or the sweat shop workers are getting a raise?

[D'Artagnan]

Did the pandas eat all the bamboo or the sweat shop workers are getting a raise?

something like that...

[adman]

I'm afraid the fact is they will be getting pricier everywhere... there is a something of complex situation involving the Chinese factories that produce 90% of the world's shinai...

China is my friend, they are puting the price up so they can invest in new zealand dairy farms

[kanyil]

The new minimum wage laws in China and, if it happens, the appreciation of the Yuan will be at fault here...

But they are still comparatively dirt cheap if you don't have pay too much mark-up or shipping!

[sirius1906]

something like that...

Na... The workers still gets the shitty wage, while the people in position and corrupted officials get rich.

[caseyvill]

Ya sorry if i might offend but china is a bit of a messed up place.... at least right now

O wait now that i said that china is gona block this site.... sigh

[D'Artagnan]

Actually, it is less to do with the actual wages and more to do with exertion of the 'power' they now hold over the Japanese/World market...

They are raising the price for the simple reason that "they can".

[sirius1906]

Ya sorry if i might offend but china is a bit of a messed up place.... at least right now

O wait now that i said that china is gona block this site.... sigh

It's still not the worst. Just different, and not what we are used to... I am glad I escaped though :D

[caseyvill]

It's still not the worst. Just different, and not what we are used to... I am glad I escaped though :D

its just that i have always had this whole information should be free thinking and i know Canada and the US arn't at all perfect
and I'm happy you are happy you got out

This went way off topic but i still love it

[SDK]

Actually, it is less to do with the actual wages and more to do with exertion of the 'power' they now hold over the Japanese/World market...

They are raising the price for the simple reason that "they can".

Does this mean that the japanese made shinai will stay the same. Has Miyako and Tozando already adjusted their prices or are you waiting until your stock runs out?

[D'Artagnan]

Japanese ones should stay the same, I have set the Miyako prices with the change in mind, but both Tozando and Miyako have the remaining stock on sale at the moment on the websites ;)