Warning on mail-order bogu

I would like to through a bitter word to the popularity of mail-order bogu.

Kendo requires a bogu that fits to the person. Kendo requires the safeness of the bogu. In order to avoid injury, the Kendo-ka needs to use the right fit bogu and check the bogu before each use.

I often see advertisements of bogu in Bogu magazine that have prices which doen not even worth the material. I understand that the inventory clearance sale could reduce the price but when it comes to 80% off, I would doubt its quality.

I am not saying the mail-order is bad but how the size is chosen.
What about the maintenance? The method? Are you going to do the maintenance via mail-order?

Here is an example. A person was interested in buying a sail order bogu and wanted to fit the size. The client visited the address indicated on the advertisement. He asked the address of the outlet and the factory but not clear. He called the telephone number listed but it was forwarded to someone else. He was not able to see the merchandize not fir it. He became so frustrated and contacted us believing that it was one of our members.

How could we maintain the safety of Kendo bogu?

The repair of such mail-order bogu is usually brought into the local bogu shop.

There are many mail-order merchants who are very honest. However, I have seen many of the equipment do not function as bogu but also do we know the material nor the manufacturing method. I find such equipment made too poorly that it even does not function as bogu.

It is not disclosed that the technique of how to make a bogu or the material. Hence we find it is important to let you know the secret.

When we attempt to repair such poorly made bogu’s, we often find the bogu in question how it is made and what sort of material is used. It is sometimes found unrepairable. We started with a usual repair method and then fell into a trap that we had to give up on the repair. There are some equipment that we cannot even use a needle to repair.

I often notice something is wrong with bogu when I hear casual conversation between a Kenshi and a storeowner saying “I cannot get a point or the equipment does not fit well.” Routine check and repair are the way to avoid accidents.

It is the pride and expertise of the Bogu specialty store.

The picture shows an example of bad bogu that uses a irregular shape Men metal bar.

The upper part is bending backward and the first horizontal bar would break out.

I believe it is very important to choose the material that stands for the adult use even it is priced low.

Of course, this Men bar needs to be replaced completely.

In any cases, the Bogu specialty store will try to repair any bogu’s at their responsibility but even such a good craftsman cannot repair all. Depending on the case, the store may refuse to accept the repair work. Please understand this and purchase well made equipment from a store that you can trust.

Kote made with bad material

An example: Material that cannot be repaired by using needle.

After 2 week use, the material used outside of the Kote worn out. Compare with the inside of the Kote.

Bad Do cannot be recognized unless we open it.

Bamboo and the leather are not aligned

We opened the Do because it had showed misalignment and found there was a significant misalignment between the leather and the bamboo.

This example shows the edge of the bamboo was not processed well. Then the leather worn out due to the friction caused by the sharp edge.

I do not believe such a bad equipment is found among made in Japan.

The Do whose edge is not processed.

The Do brought into a store for repair.

When we opened it, we found that the leather was cut by the sharp edge.

Such a Do could break 3 times faster than one whose edge is processed correctly.

It is not a special work to process the edge for a typical craftsman. It is not even considered for one of cost reduction items. We cannot think about it. We do not understand why such a Do is manufactured and delivered.

We processed the edge.

I can guarantee that this lasts more and much safer.

Basically, you can measure the quality of the store by bringing the equipment purchased at the store for repair, re-sizing, or warranty work.

The craftsmen who cannot even sharpen knives or scissors should not be making the Kendo bogu. Furthermore, I cannot trust the Bogu that is NAMED as if it were a real traditional Bogu. I would like to ask where it is made, who made it, who is responsible for it, or it is made by a traditional method.

NAMED Bogu is registered and managed by Shokunin-Kai. Please ask if the NAME is registered or not. I would like to urge all the specialty store to study more and to understand the obligation to give comfort to the Kenshi.