Nowadays, due to the world getting "smaller" through technology, kendo equipment can be purchased from a multitude of suppliers. Some have been around for a while, and some are new, "I can beat any price" middlemen. You are about to make a large investment, so please be careful! Following is some useful information for you to keep in mind about Eguchi Budo and Eguchi Budogu. Please use this to compare not only equipment line features, but also the service, support, and extended knowledge that goes with your purchase.
Eguchi Budo is proud to be:
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Active members of the Zenkoku Budogu Renmei, or All Japan Kendo Equipment Manufacturer's Association.
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Exclusive authorized distributors outside of Japan for Nakajima Zome's Jin and Fuji lines of hakama and keikogi.
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Partners with Tada Sangyo, one of the oldest bogu makers in Japan
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Partners with Hosen, makers of fine handmade specialty shinpanki, zekken, and bukuro
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Officially authorized distributor of all Hasegawa shinais and kendo gear
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History & Experience
Eguchi Budo(US) is a branch of Eguchi Budo. Eguchi Budo has been in the business of hand making and repairing kendo & jukendo equipment since 1919. Eguchi is recognized in Japan as the leader in jukendo equipment, and has received numerous awards of appreciation from the Japanese military . Considering the number of active employees (including yudansha & sensei level kenshi), we have roughly 200 years of experience in supporting and participating in kendo!
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Attention to Detail
We've built and repaired equipment for kenshi ranging from beginners to world champions. We have paid attention to every stitch we have sewn, and taken the time to closely examine the work of other bogu suppliers when we have the opportunity to fix it. This intimate knowledge of equipment means that every single stitch we make is executed with your particular needs in mind!
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Quality of Products
We take pride in the fact that most the equipment we sell is either made by us or by another member of the Zenkoku Budogu Renmei. We source items from the best manufacturers, and because of our long-standing relationship can provide these items to you at very reasonable prices! Everything we sell is inspected before it leaves our shop, and is backed by 100% customer satisfaction!
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Follow-up & Service
When you buy a bogu from us, we call 3 weeks after delivery to ensure that it is fitting you properly. When we sell all other items, they are hand inspected before they leave our shop. We visit dozens of tournaments & special events each year, and travel nightly to the two dozen dojos in the southern California area. This reputation has made us the supplier to Team USA and Team Hawaii WKC teams!
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| Why Buy a Bogu From Eguchi USA? |
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Virtually every bogu set we sell is "mix and match," due the nature of body sizes to be different.We don't just pull a bogu off out of inventory and send it to you- we combine various pieces to ensure that the sizing is right. This translates into a better fitting and safer product for you.
Most bogu sets are made with Asian body shapes in mind. Non-Asian bodies, however, can be quite different. We often find that non-Asian kenshi require smaller men and larger kote than their Asian counterparts.
For example, many times we will sell a bogu set to non-Asian kenshi that includes a small men, medium do, medium tare, and extra large kote.
We provide this size matching at no additional cost! Other bogu suppliers will simply ship you a one size fits all item and hope for the best, and you will most likely be disappointed.
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If you provide a photo of your face, we hand stitch the uchiwa (the liner inside the men that wraps around your face) for a better fit. We do this to any bogu set we sell!
Every bogu is backed by a commitment to 100% satisfaction. We support this by contacting you personally roughly 3 weeks after your purchase, to give the bogu break-in time. We want you to be happy with your investment!
For those with larger builds we provide up to 64 piece bamboo do with either a standard or large size mune. For those people of average height but very stocky builds, we provide 64 piece bamboo do with standard size mune; no other bogu supplier goes this far to assure proper fit!
We've been making bogu (not just selling, but actually making by hand) since 1919, we're not just middlemen, and know how to fit you properly. In addition, if your bogu ever needs repairs, we're here, with years of experience, ready to help!
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| Which Bogu is Best For You? |
The chart at right is only intended as a starting guide for those who are unsure about their bogu investment. Eguchi Budo would like you to keep these points in mind when shopping for a new bogu: practicality, safety, durability, and comfort.
Every sensei has a different thought on bogu. They all agree, however, that ultimately the key to good kendo is not how fancy a bogu looks, but how well you develop in strength and spirit as a kenshi. Don’t focus on how elaborate your equipment is- focus instead on good instruction, hard practice, and proper technique!
Practicality- equipment should be a good investment. We believe that a bogu should not be purchased just on cosmetics or cost, that it is selected because it is the best match to your kendo style and practice habits.
Safety- you must be adequately protected from the inherent dangers of kendo.
Durability- a bogu set is a kenshi’s "only friend" during years of keiko and shiai; it should last for many years, if not a lifetime. Eguchi Budo doesn’t see a bogu as a throw-away purchase, but as an investment in high quality, traditional craftsmanship.
Comfort & Ease of Use- equipment must be light, well-fitting, and easy to take care of; with the introduction of new materials like those used in the Mitsuboshi Pitch and Tada Jissen bogus, light weight is definitely a plus. |
