Eiko Budogu is a martial arts equipment manufacturer founded in Kawaguchi City in 5. The company was established by their father and is now run by their brothers. This time, we were able to hear about their factory, which was open to the public for the first time. We introduce Eiko Budogu, the revolutionary (innovator) that has produced numerous hit products. (May 2017)

Profile

Yoshiaki Madokoro, Managing Director of Eiko Budogu Co., Ltd.

The roots of Eiko Budogu

-Please tell us about the history of Eiko Budogu. Managing Director"My father founded the company in 4, about 25 years ago. He didn't originally practice kendo, but as my sons and I started practicing it, he became interested in kendo and started practicing it himself." What was the trigger for this to become a business? Managing Director"When he went to buy kendo equipment, he honestly felt that it was expensive. So he thought that if he could sell good quality equipment at a lower price, more people would take up kendo." —You didn't have any experience making kendo equipment, did you? Managing Director"Yes. The current president's older brother continued kendo up until high school, but instead of going to university he chose boxing. At that time my father quit his job and chose to run a martial arts equipment store. It was reckless for someone with no knowledge or experience in kendo to start a martial arts equipment store (laughs)." *The president achieved the number one ranking in Japan. -Did you have difficulties when you first started the company? Managing Director"At the time, it was common to buy kendo equipment after seeing advertisements in kendo magazines or through recommendations from local kendo teachers. Nowadays we have the convenient tool of the internet, but back then, my father apparently did business by using his own personal connections. We started selling our equipment at prices lower than the market rate, so I think it was a new style in the industry." -I'm sure your customers were very happy. Managing Director"I think that's true. I don't know what the image of his peers was, but I think it was the best option for my father at the time. He must have thought of relationships with customers first. His concept of selling not just cheap products, but good quality products at reasonable prices is still relevant today." -When did you first become involved in management? Managing Director"My brother was already working, but I started working at the age of 22, right after graduating from university. I was involved in sales and product development from the time I joined the company, but it wasn't until eight years ago, when my father retired and my brother became the representative, that I became heavily involved in management." -Which store did you start out in when you first started? Managing Director"We were founded in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. After operating our single store in Kawaguchi for about 10 years, we opened a second store in Ueno, my father's hometown. We then opened an office in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, to serve as our headquarters and distribution center, and this is now our headquarters, Koshigaya store, and repair center. The original Kawaguchi store is now operating as the Omiya Station store."

A martial arts equipment store whose management and staff are kendo practitioners

-Congratulations on your promotion at the recent 2017 7th Dan Examination. Managing Director"thank you" -I understand that you are a 7th dan kendo player and have participated in the National Athletic Meet and Prefectural Championships. Do you think that having employees who actually practice kendo helps with product development and provides benefits to users? Managing Director"Of course. Personally, customers often ask me about my experience using the product, so I think it's difficult to talk about it without using it. Even if they ask me, 'What are the features of this armor?' I can tell you the specifications, but I can't answer about ease of use. That means customers end up choosing based on price. We love kendo and kendo equipment, so we stock products that we can actually use and that are good. We consider comfort not only in armor but also in uniforms and hakama, and we select products after using the shinai bags and armor bags, so I think our sensibilities are close to those of our customers. I think the biggest benefit is being able to talk to our customers from the same perspective. I myself teach kendo at a local dojo, so I can understand the needs and concerns of swordsmen of all ages, and I also naturally receive valuable feedback from parents." -It seems like other manufacturers develop their products by talking to special training athletes and kendo practitioners and starting from their concerns. Managing Director"Of course, we also talk with these people as fellow kendo practitioners. For example, we hear their concerns and hopes about bogu, but I think it's quite difficult to get to the point of saying how to change it to improve it. It's easy to simply seek ease of use, such as reducing the amount of core material or making it lighter... But if that results in safety not being maintained, then it's no good as bogu. The premise of bogu is that it must provide protection. It feels lighter if it fits the body rather than being heavy. Furthermore, ideally, wearing bogu will improve your performance, and that's always been my concept."

Weight is not important

Managing Director"There was once a craftsman named Saegusa Hiroki who was famous throughout the country, and when I saw his armor I thought it was incredibly heavy. It was from about 50 years ago, and the faceplate was heavy, so it was what we call heavy armor. It was a master's armor, and the workmanship was so wonderful I was simply impressed, but what's more, when I actually put it on, it didn't feel heavy at all. That was when I was reminded of the importance of balance. I don't really like reducing the core material to make something lighter or softer. I do respond to customer requests to some extent, but it's only natural that the armor will become softer if you reduce the core material, so it feels like they're running away from the craftsmanship. I don't think armor makers should do that." - I think the balance of a bamboo sword changes depending on the position of the joints and the thickness, but what is the balance of armor? Managing Director"The weight of the head accounts for a significant proportion of the body. When wearing a mask, if the futon is light, the mengane will be heavy and the center of gravity will shift forward. Therefore, the balance between the mengane and the futon is important. A light mengane and a light futon may be well balanced, but it is not strong. Kendo is said to be a lifelong sport, but this could result in neck injuries or hearing loss. It is worrying to think about what would happen if you continued practicing kendo in what is known as lightweight armor." —So you want to provide something that is both practical and safe. Managing Director"That's right. The strength of a kote strike varies from person to person, but as a kendo practitioner, I can simply tell when a hit with this kote hurts and when it doesn't hurt, so I can put that into practice and my opinions are quickly reflected in the product. This is all the more true as many of our employees also practice kendo."

About the Kendo Equipment Manufacturing Factory

-Where is Eiko Budogu's kendo equipment currently manufactured? Managing Director"Of course, we also have products that are sourced from other manufacturers, including those made in China and Vietnam. However, our original brand is mainly manufactured in the Philippines. The predecessor to this factory was established by a famous craftsman who had trained for many years in Japan. We met this craftsman about 1 years ago and began doing business with him. At the time, every domestic manufacturer would claim that their armor was the best. That was how outstanding their technical skills were." -You mentioned that it was the predecessor factory, but what does that mean? Managing Director"At the time, production couldn't keep up, and every company was struggling with delayed delivery times. However, our factory had more manufacturing processes than other factories, and we worked extremely carefully, so it took a long time. However, because we were a highly skilled factory, some manufacturers were willing to wait for delivery times. However, we had no choice but to increase our staff to keep up with the huge number of orders, and we were caught up in price wars with factories in China and Vietnam, which led to poor business performance." -The business is becoming precarious. Managing Director"We were worried, but the company actually went bankrupt. It was a bolt from the blue for us as we were preparing products for the year-end and New Year sales. Of course, we were worried about the sales, but more than anything, we were worried that the high level of skill and craftsmanship that the factory possessed would be lost. As the craftsmen, led by the factory manager, remained, our president immediately went to the site and, working together with the factory manager, a new factory was built. The local people had a lot of difficulties at the time, but it was also really difficult for us, given the situation of the factory and the country." -It sounds like a drama. You must have a strong bond with your employees. Managing Director"We couldn't do it without those people. When I first arrived, there were naturally no smiles and the atmosphere was heavy. Everyone seemed anxious even though we had just built a new factory. We thought the only way to alleviate this was to keep visiting the factory ourselves, so my boss and I went there almost every month. We not only worked together but also participated in Christmas parties and cooked curry, and as we deepened our relationships, it seemed like everyone's expressions started to change. Of course, this was all thanks to the efforts of the factory manager and the workers." —Do people other than the management team also visit the factory? Managing Director"Our employees take turns working in each department to ensure they fully understand what kind of people are doing what kind of work, so we sell our armor with the people who make it in mind. The craftsmen at the factory are so dedicated that it feels like they don't have to go to such lengths. Some people look at us with a suspicious expression when we tell them that we manufacture our products outside of Japan, but that's a mistake. They have the technical skills and are honest people, so we all agree that we should be proud to sell our armor." —The entire company works together to sell highly reliable products.

Development of the Dragonfly series

-You have the Tonbo series, BAK Kendo equipment, TONBO armor bags and armor, and BAK underwear. Could you tell us the concept behind each line and how they were made? Managing Director"We can make elaborate armor, and it's well known that we have high technical skills, but I felt that ease of use was still a step away. That's when I started making Tonbo. At the time, flashy armor was popular, but I saw a martial arts equipment store that was also making easy-to-use kote, and I thought that from now on, stores that made easy-to-use kote would become stronger. I thought that the era of flashy armor might be coming to an end. However, kote are three-dimensional and complex, so I thought it wouldn't be easy, so I took apart various kote from those I had and those available for sale, haha." —Did you take off your gloves? Managing Director"As I made the pattern, I gradually began to understand what it would look like. I recently spoke with a kote craftsman, and he told me that there's no way I could make a kote pattern if I wasn't a craftsman. But I started by making the pattern. I imagined what it would look like with this pattern, and sent the pattern to the factory after imagining it over and over again. The first sample was by no means satisfactory, but it gave me many hints. I learned about the feel of the finished product and areas where there was a seam allowance, such as making it wider in certain places. I then repeated this process several times and was able to determine to a certain extent what kind of kote would be easy to use." —What was difficult about it? Managing Director"For example, if you want to make the kote smaller, there are several patterns. You can make more hair inside, change the size of the inside of the hand, make the head on the outside smaller, etc. It was difficult to figure out how to change it by adjusting only the parts, as there were so many. Kote A has a smaller inside of the hand, Kote B has more hair only, Kote C has a larger head only, Kote D has the inside of the hand and hair, and by combining these, you can see the equation. And the result was Dragonfly. I think Dragonfly was the first easy-to-use armor we made." -The concept was to make gloves that were easy to use. Managing Director"That's right. We started from there and paid particular attention to the futon. I know that not many people pay much attention to futons, but they are very important. We studied the core materials and shapes of the futon, and were able to create a good futon itself. If we could make this futon, we thought we should try making the mask and the tare as well, and so we came up with this set." —So this is an application of the knowledge gained from manufacturing gloves. Managing Director"We ended up selling it as a set about 10 years ago. The concept was, 'High strength and easy to use! But not lightweight.' Everyone was like, 'Huh?' but as I said earlier, by fitting it to your body we made it feel lighter. It's all about balance. Armor that doesn't restrict movement and allows you to move smoothly and without stress. We currently sell armor bags and bamboo sword bags, and they are also easy to use = dragonfly! So we named them 'TONBO.'" —I see. That's very easy to understand. Managing Director"There are many products in the Dragonfly series, each with its own unique features, but the concept remains the same. As for the armor bag I mentioned earlier, I didn't create the mold myself, but I went through a lot of trial and error. When I thought about the situation in which it would be used, I wondered what kind of shape it would be, and if I did it this way it would be easier to use, and I kept trying to come up with the answer."

Development of the BAK series

—What was the development process for the BAK series? Managing Director"The BAK series started with underwear." —How long ago was that? Managing Director"It was about six or seven years ago. It all started when our president went to consult with Kentaro Takahashi, an associate professor at Kanto Gakuin University, a senior at his high school, and a training coach for the Japanese national kendo team, about making underwear. In kendo, there was no concept of wearing anything underneath, but when we thought about injuries, we thought that it would be good to evolve the products to provide more support, so we went to consult with him. His senior agreed, and we decided to start manufacturing. We thought about what is the difference between kendo and other sports in order to prevent injuries." -How do the muscles of people who practice kendo develop? Managing Director"Kendo practitioners have a unique muscle development that is not common in other sports, with the left calf and right thigh being well developed. That's why BAK is an asymmetrical supporter. By using power net to reinforce the areas necessary for kendo movements, we created a supporter that allows for smooth movement. The jacket has an X-shaped power net on the back, and is shaped so that the chest can be pushed out naturally when assuming a stance. This has the effect of reducing fatigue caused by tension in the spine. Also, supporting these areas means that injuries are less likely to occur. Takahashi-senpai's thinking was that players who don't get injured are strong, and players who don't get tired are strong." —If you don't get tired or injured, are you strong? Managing Director"A strong athlete is one who continues to perform the same way; in other words, becoming less tired = becoming stronger. Even if your opponent is tired, if you yourself are not tired, there will be a difference in strength. Also, if you get injured, you need to rest, and it takes a long time to make up for that rest, so it is very important not to get injured. Takahashi-senpai has spoken to many kendo practitioners about the importance of this, and many of them have praised it, saying that it gives them a sense of relief and that they don't feel tired the next day. BAK is a product made based on the exercise physiology known as biomechanics. As with BAK armor, Boost Ability For Kendo BAK is a product that we created together with Takahashi-senpai."

The difference lies in the hands

--I'm sorry to go back to the previous topic, but you said that martial arts equipment stores that have easy-to-use kote products will be strong in the future. I'd like to ask why kote. Managing Director"The gloves absolutely make a difference in ease of use. For track and field athletes, it's like spikes. So I started researching gloves, but of course I'm researching all protective gear. Of all the gear, the one I'm personally very interested in right now is the tare. You may not be all that interested in tare, but as I've been researching it, I've become interested in a lot of different things. I've been researching tare and making samples, and when I put on these sample tare, I put a lot of force into it. It feels like someone is supporting my lower back." —Does this mean that you put more strength into your lower back? Managing Director"That's right. For example, people who work standing up, such as greengrocers and fishmongers, have been wearing aprons since ancient times. When we get tired, we do the same thing, don't we? We do it because it's comfortable. This means that wearing aprons makes it possible to stand for long periods of time. We have incorporated this importance into the Tare of BAK Bogu, but we are researching it further. We are currently working on it after consulting with an osteopathic doctor, asking about the structure of bones and how to make the ideal Tare. Because the Tare has such an effect, it is an extremely important piece of Kendo equipment.' —To be honest, I didn't usually pay much attention to Taru. Managing Director"I think the Tare should be something that everyone can tell right away is different. It shouldn't be something that no one notices. The hands are sensitive and have many joints, and it's easy to tell that you're using the Shinai directly, so I think other martial arts equipment stores are also putting a lot of effort into the Kote." --I see, that certainly builds anticipation. Is there any final message you'd like to share? Managing Director"Kendo can be practiced by anyone, regardless of gender or age, so I think there are a variety of requests. I think our ability to accommodate a wide range of customers is what makes our company unique. I think that the definition of what is good varies from person to person, but we want to be a company that has a manufacturing policy while also being flexible enough to respond to what each person considers good." —I see. I understand very well. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Managing Director"Thank you very much." The product page of Eiko Budogu, who was interviewed this time, isCLICK HERE! interviewer ◎ Representative Director: Go Ueshima Born in Sendai in 1987. While a member of the Sendai High School Kendo Club, he studied under Mitsunobu Sato and made it to the top eight at the Inter-High School Championships. After graduating from university, he served as the business development manager for a restaurant chain with 200 stores across the US. 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