Yasunobu Shokai was founded in 1937. It is surprising to learn that after martial arts were banned by GHQ after the war, they began selling martial arts equipment on the black market. We will share with you the thoughts of this company, which has been in business since before the war, on its manufacturing (May 2017). profile Yasunobu Shokai Co., Ltd. President and CEO Seigo Ando

Hit product: Fujidaruma brand kendo uniform

The trademark of Yasunobu Shokai, the Daruma doll

—When you think of Yasunobu Shokai, you think of the Daruma seal. President : "Our company is particularly strong in clothing because our founder started out selling bolts of fabric. He started as an apprentice and worked his way up to becoming a store manager." —When you first started your business, did you manufacture kendo uniforms and hakama? President : "Before the war, martial arts were at their peak, so judo uniforms were common. Sports hadn't been imported yet, so when it came to physical training, people practiced kendo, judo, and karate. The majority of people practiced martial arts." -After the war, GHQ banned martial arts. President : "It seems that there were a lot of people who practiced martial arts in secret. I heard that he would go out to sell his judo uniform to these people by pulling a cart on the black market, wearing five or six layers of judo uniform underneath his coat. This company has been around since those days."

A warning against throwaway culture

President : "I think of Ichiro as someone close to a samurai." —You take good care of things. President : "I never let them touch the bat. It's the same with a samurai's sword. If you have that kind of mentality, you take good care of your things. I think it will make it less likely that people will give up kendo halfway through. We as manufacturers also believe that we shouldn't make things that break easily."

Kendo is an athletic art

President : "Even though they wear armor-like protective gear, their posture is beautiful. People overseas say, 'There is no other sport like this.'" -There's a beauty to the outfit. President : "It's a form of athletic art. I'm glad that people overseas are discovering its value." - Re-importing kendo and getting Japanese people to recognize its value might be a shortcut to increasing the number of kendo practitioners. Thank you for today. Click here to see the product page of Yasunobu Shokai, the company we interviewed this time! interviewer ◎ Representative Director: Go Ueshima Born in Sendai in 1987. While in the Sendai High School Kendo Club, he studied under Mitsunobu Sato and made it to the top eight of the Inter-High School Championships. After graduating from university, he worked as the business development manager for a restaurant chain with 200 stores across the U.S. He worked in sales at a foreign internet advertising company and as the head of the sales department and president's office at Innova Co., Ltd., before founding Bushizo Inc. in January 2017. ◎ Director Yusuke Kudo Born in Hokkaido in 1984. Started kendo at age 6 and currently enrolled at the Konno Dojo in Shibuya. While attending Rikkyo University, he worked at an advertising agency, providing marketing support for apparel brands and launching a free magazine. Joined Yahoo Japan Corporation in April 2008, where he is involved in sales of advertising products such as search advertising and display advertising. Founded Bushizo Inc. in January 2017.