Category: Dogi & Hakama

All-time Classic Tozando Deluxe Polyester Aikido Hakama

Making the best Aikido Hakama for more than 20 years

This Tozando Polyester Aikido Hakama is made with 100% polyester which is extra smooth and soft with a cashmere-like luster. The Hakama is durable, safe and beautifully tailored, so that you can perform at your best without worrying about the details. The best Aikido Hakama ever! – Stanley Pranin Tozando Read More

What’s the best way to wash my indigo-dyed Kendo wear?

A question that’s on the mind of many Kendo practitioners is; “What’s the best way to wash my indigo-dyed Kendo Gi and Hakama?” A knee-jerk answer to that would be to simply avoid using the washing machine and to hand-wash your clothing lest you want to damage the fabric. And Read More

Bundles of indigo dyed cotton yarns

Japanese Indigo Dye: Blue comes from indigo and is bluer than indigo

Are you avoiding Sho-aizome(genuine indigo dye) for fear of fading? The Ai (indigo) color is used not only in Kendo equipment but has been used throughout Japanese culture. Its deepness has naturally blended with the Japanese lifestyle. There is a saying; “Blue comes from Ai and is bluer than the Read More

Do you know? The secret to the number of folds on the Hakama and joints on the Shinai

Kendo is very popular overseas with many Kenshi worldwide. But since it is not an Olympic sport, the existence of a kendo world championship is perhaps not widely known. As a company that markets martial arts items, we feel the obligation to spread awareness of kendo. We want not only Read More

Is your Aikido Hakama really good enough?

About 20 years ago, getting a good Aikido Hakama would require you to either come to Japan yourself, or try to contact one of the few stores that would accept mail-orders and ship internationally. Additionally, if you didn’t know any Japanese, then it could have been quite hard to even Read More

About the attitude towards appearance in Iaido

In Budo, appearance and the way you dress is a very important element, and it’s often said that your appearance is a mirror of your mind. If your appearance is disorderly, it shows that your mind is disturbed. Always remaining well dressed and tidy, this is also something that requires Read More

Why do you not wear any underwear when doing Keiko in Kendo?

Among those junior high- and high school students who are about to start Kendo in Japan,  this remains one of the most common questions among them to this day. “Why do you not wear any underwear when doing Keiko in Kendo?” In schools and Dojo with a long history in Read More

Tozando celebrates ‘Hello Kitty’ 40th Anniversary ‘Tozando x Hello Kitty’ for the future of Kendo

Perhaps many of you have seen the picture of a ‘Hello Kitty’ themed Kendo Bogu floating around on the internet, but did you know that the Bogu was actually made by Tozando? Tozando made this Bogu in cooperation with SANRIO CO. ,LTD. to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Hello Kitty’, Read More

To have your name embroidered/engraved in Japanese

Thanks to the modern computer-aided sewing machines, it has become very easy to have our name embroidered on our Gi or Hakama. It is decorative and useful (for example: it is certainly easier to retrieve our own stuff、 in case all our clothes get mixed up in a sudden tornado Read More