This Dobari-style Shinai has the weight and balance centred towards the hands, making the tip light and maneuverable. This style is favoured by many top level players in Japan and across the World.
"During my preparation for the World Kendo Championships, I was having trouble finding a Shinai that was exactly to my taste. I wanted something with a medium to large grip ,with the weight set towards my hands, giving me the flexibility to perform the right technique at the right time. At that time I was unable to openly purchase the Shinai I required, so in the end I made it myself from Madake bamboo I had specially shipped to me from Japan.
Sanjusangen is a reproduction of that Shinai, and has proven to be incredibly popular with our Japanese customers!" - Andy Fisher, Miyako Kendogu
Sanjusangen is named after the famous Sanjusangen-do temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto. It is home to 1,001 statues of Kannon, the deity associated with compassion. 1,000 human-sized statues flank the much larger, central statue of the Thousand Armed Kannon - itself a designated National Treasure. Amongst these statues stand 28 further statues of the guardian deities, and two further statues of Raijin - the god of thunder, and Fujin -the god of wind.
Sanjusangen-do is important to the culture of Budo. Not only is it the site at which Miyamoto Musashi fought a famous duel with Yoshioka Denshichiro - leader of the Yoshioka school of martial arts, but it is also the site of the Toshi-ya, a yearly Kyudo (archery) contest, where over 2,000 traditionally dressed competitors are challenged to shoot at targets 120 meters away.
IMPORTANT
The Consumer Product Safety Association (CPSA) in Japan specializes in the quality control of potentially dangerous consumer goods. Only quality assured products are allowed to bear the SG Mark, which meet the Japanese government standards in line with Consumer Product Safety Law. Unlike other quality assurance stickers found on Shinai, the SG Mark is not awarded from a collective group of Kendogu manufacturers and retailers, rather it is a government approved seal that ensures products have met strict legal quality standards.
As well as on Shinai, the SG Mark can be found on various products which have the potential to endanger human life - including bicycles, baby carriers, motorcycle helmets, climbing equipment and much more. For official information (PDF) about the SG Mark and the CPSA click here.
