Tozando How To’s -How to apply wax to your wooden weapons- One of the easiest methods to make sure your wooden weapons are protected from the elements is by applying a wax. In this article we will explain one method for applying paraffin wax to your bokken. The reason we Read More
In the recent Movie “Musashi” by Mikami Yasuo, the famous jidaigeki actor Ken Matsudaira plays Sasaki Kojiro – Musashi’s infamous final nemesis. In this article Takahiko Kimura, Tozando’s chairman, discusses with Matsudaira about his role and the development of his signature weapon – the “Monohoshizao” (known affectionately as the laundry Read More
Members from the Japanese National Kendo Team including All-Japan Championship winners Nishimura hidehisa and kiwada Daiki cross shinai with participants from all over Japan and the world at Tozando’s annual Renseikai. The visiting teachers all impart importants lesson that can be applied in shiai and everyday keiko. Tozando’s Annual Renseikai Read More
In 1953, after a 10 years of absence and prohibition, eight kenshi stepped into sonkyo for a new beginning of Japanese post-war kendo.
Footwork is not just a kihon practice, but a skill that will develop alongside our seme throughout our shugyo.
Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Kenjutsu, and the Tengu The namesake of one of our most popular bogu, the Kurama Set is named after the highest peak in Kyoto, Mt. Kurama. I decided to visit the mountain and see with my own eyes what makes it special. Mt. Kurama is located North Read More
The Japanese people’s reverence of nature dates back to ancient times and is rooted in the religious worship of nature, especially since the prosperity of Sangaku Shinko. This roughly translates as ‘mountain worship’ and originated as a practice in Shugendo in the 7th century as an amalgamation of beliefs and Read More
Many roads passed through the ancient capital of Kyoto, for example the Tokaido, Sanyodo and Hokurikudo roads. The most important 7 main roads on which you could enter and leave Kyoto, in other words check points, were called Kyo no Nanakuchi(the seven entrances of Kyoto). Even to this day there Read More
The Samue (作務衣) was originally a type of work clothes for Zen Buddhist priests in Japan and was something that they would wear when they were cleaning, cutting firewood, working the fields and do other daily tasks around the temple. Since it originally was a type of working garment, it Read More
Written by Takahiko Kimura, Tozando CEO A short 10 minute walk from the Tozando headquarters, you can find the Seimei Shrine which is known to worship the god that ward off evil and evil spirits. Just hearing “Seimei Shrine” many people might already have an idea of what it is Read More
