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ABOUT KENDO-BOGU


Choosing whom to buy from is very important!

HAYASHI Takahiro, Renshi 6-dan
Born in Shiga on November 4, 1978

I received a strict upbringing from my grandfather who was a former soldier. When I was in elementary school, I was only allowed to watch only NHK (public broadcasting) television because of its educational value. For snacks, I was only allowed plain food such as dried cuttlefish and dried sweet potato, and I always had a shaven head.

I started practising kendo when I was thirteen upon entering junior high school. My wife was the person who first taught me everything about kendo, from how to grip and hold a shinai, to footwork. My junior high school team placed in the top 8 in Shiga. After graduation, I entered Shiga Prefectural Kosei High School, which is well known for its strong kendo club. I trained under the guidance of Otosu-sensei, a Kyoshi from Kagoshima. Among my kendo mates were Kiwada-senshu, Nakano-senshu, Matsuwaki-senshu, and Amishiro-senshu, all famous kenshi who have been representatives for Japan’s national kendo team. People still talk of how I was only focused on passing promotion instead of attending actual matches, but would show my face at the winning celebrations.

After graduating from high school, and before landing a job at Tozando in 2004, I made his living doing miscellaneous things such as sales at various budogu shops, working as a petrol station attendant, cooking at a bento shop, assistant at a real estate agent, working in a delivery company, and so on.

While assisting instruction at a nearby dojo, I am currently training and disciplining myself under the guidance of an 8-dan sensei in Shiga, as well we receiving valuable lessons about kendo from wonderful instructors all over Japan that I meet through my work. My goal is to obtain 7-dan before my peers! My motto is "zuishosakushu", which means whatever you do for a living, work hard as if you were the hero of the story, and paths will surely open.

Brief Biography:
1992 obtained shodan
1994 obtained 2-dan
1996 obtained 3-dan
1999 obtained 4-dan
2003 obtained 5-dan
2008 obtained 6-dan
2009 received the teaching title of Renshi

Kendo Match History:
1996 participated in the All Japan High School Kendo Championships

Store Manager's Message:
Let's practise kendo in a fun, safe manner. Your approach to keiko will differ depending on who you are, your previous experience, and what your purpose is, etc., The beautiful thing about kendo is that you continue to get stronger as you get older, when it becomes all about mental training. Kendo has many stages starting from when you master basic movements, learning to use your footwork to compete dynamically in matches, through to when you exude the aura of a seasoned master who is able to betwixt opponents with a sharp gaze and formidable shinai skills. This level can only be achieved through years of training, and our mission is to support kendo enthusiasts through the development of safe training equipment that meets their stringent demands.
NAKATA Takumi, 5-dan, Tozando's Kendo Bogu craftsman & Kendo-Bogu.com's technical advisor

Born in Shiga on August 5, 1984

My sister's friend was doing Kendo and my mother told me to start as well. I started practising Kendo in the summer of when I was 7 years old in a small town Dojo in Shiga Prefecture, lead by a 8dan Hanshi sensei. He taught me a lot and still does. During high school period, my school team got in the best 8 at the prefecture team tournament. I started when I was small and I still continue Kendo. Although I am every day busy with making Men or other Bogu parts, I finish in time to go to practice. That is very important for me. My next goal is to become 6th dan in three years. And now I am practising hard to become that level. I wanted to become a craftsman because Kendo is my passion and I wanted to do something that connects with Kendo. I love Bogu very much. I think it is an honour to have had the chance to learn from my master Mr. Tahara, who is one of the most famous craftsmen in this country. He taught me strict but nicely, and now every day I am doing my best to overcome my master and his skills.
TAHARA Hirofumi, 5-dan, Tozando's Kendo Bogu craftsman & Kendo-Bogu.com's technical advisor