The “MICHI” model is a light weight, easy to use Kote with great durability and impact absorption, at a very competitive price! By using a new type of padding, we have been able to produce a extremely lightweight, yet thicker and more protective type of Futon for this Kote. Thanks Read More
What else can you do to win? This Tokuren® ZX Gold Bogu Set is the evolution of our popular Tokuren® X Bogu set, made especially with Shiai in mind. It’s lightweight yet protective, featuring 6mm Tight Cross-stitch stitching. The Tight Cross-stitch and the new padding inside the Futon gives this Read More
Takahiro Hayashi – born in 1978, from Shiga. He has never failed a promotion exam and became the youngest person at age 35 to reach 7th dan. Works at Tozando. Alec Bennet – born in 1970, from New Zealand. Chief editor of magazine Kendo World, Professor at Kansai University. Hayashi Read More
Even now, deerskin is used for high-quality Kendo equipment. Deerskin dyed in dark blue is used for all parts of the body, and smoked brown skin that is used for the Kote palm. During the hunter-gatherer era, deer were hunted for food, and the skin was naturally used for clothing Read More
The Shinai is commonly viewed as a substitute for the Japanese sword, and while the Japanese sword is regarded as ‘the samurai’s spirit’, so to speak, the Shinai is regarded as ‘the soul of the Kenshi’. The Shinai used in contemporary Kendo is made out of a bamboo split into Read More
A ‘Shinai’ is commonly known as a practice tool replacing a live blade in Kendo and Kenjutsu. And yet, it goes beyond being simply a tool in that it’s treated with reverence. More than just being a bamboo sword used during practice or competitions, by standing in for a real Read More
One day before the Swiss Kendo Championship, I received the email from Tozando that I have won the Trip to Japan. I couldn’t believe it and needed a weekend to realise what happened and that I should give my conformation for the trip. During the whole Kendo weekend, I thought Read More
Kendo bogu breaks down into Men, Do, Tare and Kote. Amongst these components, the Kote are particularly known for wearing out the fastest. As a matter of fact, by the time you wear one breastplate out, you’ll probably have already eaten your way through three sets of gloves. The main Read More
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
A Half-Century Challenge -A Father to Son Story of Invention “Working as an artisan is incredibly tough, and I have worked hard to improve the working conditions since my father’s time” says Mr. Oka. His father is the Kazuman Tada, the late founder of Tada Industrial Corporation which manufactured Japanese Read More
