English Version:
With an Aikido tournament fast approaching, I recently had the pleasure of purchasing my first Aikido set. The set consisted of a bokuto (wooden sword) and jou (short staff).
As a big supporter of local business, I was determined to have a set made in Japan and
was encouraged to explore a few businesses in Osaka and Tozando, in Kyoto. Thankfully, Tozando had a special promotion and guaranteed expedient shipping, with a solid arrival date, just in time for the impending tournament.
As an instrumentalist who has spent many years and dollars/yen selecting woods and finishes, I knew that expert advice would be required, to ensure optimal performance. With that, I phoned Tozando and was assisted by Mr.Sato, an incredibly knowledgeable associate. I was presented with options (the type of wood, engraving, bag, etc.), recommendations, and even information about the craftsman who was to create my set. Overall, communication was smooth and enjoyable — I highly recommend this shop!
I learned that a master craftsman in Miyazaki prefercture would be making my order. I had the option for engraving my name on both the wood and the bag but given that my Kanji is hardly legible on paper, I didn't think I would have much luck trying to write my name on the bottom of anything.
To my surprise, the order arrived sooner than initially expected, with an amazing level of craftsmanship. The white oak and wood engraving were simply beautiful. The symmetry is perfect, the edges are evenly sanded, and care has clearly been taken in the choice of grain, in regards to the shaping. This set is clearly the craftsmanship of an expert.
