Deluxe Bokken - Exotic Wood - Tsubaki (Camellia Japonica)

Name: Deluxe Bokken - Exotic Wood - Tsubaki (Camellia Japonica)
Brand: Seido
SKU: W159P
Price: 19400.0 JPY
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.91 (45 reviews)

SKU: W159P

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Choosing your Bokken & Jo
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Deluxe Bokken 101.5 cm Tsubaki

Made in Japan (Kyushu)

Chevroned Spine | Rounded butt | Long Kissaki

Tsubaki (Camellia japonica) available

This Bokken has an almost identical finish to that of the red and white oak models and is available made from Tsubaki (Camellia japonica). The characteristic of this wood makes it a great classic of Japanese wood crafting. Not as luxurious as ebony, but an excellent choice for intermediate practitioners wishing to acquire a bokken that is also a quality work of art. Made by master Aramaki, this model undergoes a very strict wood selection and special attention is paid to its finish.

Tsubaki is a light wood used for finesse and precision. This bokken will also make a great gift to someone who passed a grading examination.

A bokken made from Camellia can safely be used by any practitioner.

Due to quotas established by the Japanese government, Tsubaki (Camellia Japonica) is available in limited quantities. Therefore, in case of shortage, a manufacturing delay of 5 to 6 weeks is to be expected for restocking.

Choice of wood species: Tsubaki (camellia japonica)
Finish: Non varnish (oil polish).
Manufacturing workshop: Aramaki for all models

All our high-end bokken are offered non varnished (camellia oil polish finish). Note that unvarnished weapons are much more pleasant to the touch and during practice.
Unvarnished weapons are more ecologically-friendly, but they require regular (monthly) maintenance with oil (camellia or wood maintenance oil) and they can only be made from the finest, Japanese quality woods. Given the need for maintenance of these weapons, our stocks are limited. Also, since the craftsmen must select the best wood possible to manufacture these weapons, the processing time is longer than for varnished weapons. If out of stock or made to order, the shipping time can take up to 6 weeks in case of shortage.

**Deluxe Bokken Specifications**
Wood	Tsubaki (camellia japonica)
Weight	450 ~ 500 g
Full length	101.5 cm
Blade length	75.5 cm
Tsuka length	26 cm
Tsuka diameter	37 x 26 mm
Mine	Kenmine (chevroned spine)
Tsuka shape	Hanmaru (rounded butt)
Kissaki	Daikissaki (long) (~3 cm)

* Wood being a living material, color and weight vary from one weapon to another.

Information on How to Choose Your Bokken & Jo - Shape & Wood

Because of the current situation in the Japanese wooden weapon industry, we do not guarantee production times, from which workshop weapons come, visual aspect and color matching within weapon sets. We're doing our best, but we are limited by what is humanly possible. Please read this article and our blog carefully.

Until the end of 2019, the wooden weapons proposed by Seido were manufactured by one of the last four traditional workshops in the south of Japan, in the region of Miyakonojo (Kyushu), Horinouchi, Nidome, Matsuzaki and Aramaki. Seido was the only company in the world (including Japan) working with these 4 workshops simultaneously.
Unfortunately, at the end of 2019, the Horinouchi workshop definetely closed. The 2020 covid crisis put a very heavy burden on the remaining workshops, and since early 2021, almost all made in Japan weapons are manufactured by the Aramaki workshop.
We still have a few pieces that come, time to time, from the Nidome and Matsuzaki workshop, but not enough to allow us to give the choice to our customers.

Additionally, as published in a lengthy blog article at the end of 2020, not only the production capacity dropped by more than 50%, but wood quality also significantly lowered.
The current situation is very likely announcing the end of made in Japan wooden weapons but Seido has always been the number one wooden weapons expert in the world and still aim to be. Although we don't do magic, we have an extensive knowledge of woodworking and pride ourselves on the quality of our own Seido finish.
For this reason, we have decided to stop offering varnish vs oil polish finish and switch to "Standard finish" vs "Seido Finish", which we detail in this article.

As for which model and wood you should select, the first thing to determine is your "type of practice". Will you seldom use your weapons? Do you practice weapons at each class? What type of Aikido do you practice?
Beginners and casual weapons practitioners will opt for a light and reliable material such as red oak, and a "classic" shape Bokken. If your practice involves important clashes between weapons, then you will turn instead to the more durable white oak. If you are looking for an original wood, then Isu no Ki is for you.
Sunuke, Camelia, and Ebony woods are recommended for experienced practitioners wishing to acquire deluxe weapons, or for gifts.

Contents

Workshop Finish & Seido Finish

For all weapons: all weapons are selected for their structural integrity. We cannot guarantee that they will not have any small knot, but any weapon deemed dangerous by our staff (which includes a quality control by an actual Budoka) are taken apart and destroyed.

Standard Finish (Oiled Polished): the weapon as it is delivered to us from the workshop, with an extra oiling before shipping. Those weapons may have surface imperfections. No splinters, no cracks, no big knot, but not a perfect surface either.

Seido Finish (Oil Polish): the weapon is sanded and oiled several times. Small surface imperfections are fixed to make the weapon at smooth as possible. We focus our finish where the practitioners hands go, there may be tiny imperfections on Bokken/Shoto blades. Then we wax the weapon with high quality made in Japan beeswax.

If you do not need a perfect finish or want to see what comes out of the workshop, then we recommend the standard finish. If you are looking for 'perfect' weapons, the highest grade possible for made in Japan weapons, then we strongly recommend the Seido Finish.

The Weight of the Weapon - It depends on the shape and type of wood

Standard: Weapons

The classic Bokken or 24 mm Jo (8 BU) are the most widely used, both in Aikido, Kendo, and Iaido. The weapons have an average but reasonable weight, and are primarily intended for beginners and casual practitioners.

Light Weapons

Small weapons including "Jiki Shinkage Ryu" bokken, bokken made in buna, and jo made in Isu no Ki are specifically designed for working on accuracy and speed. This type of weapons is used in aikido schools who follow the teachings of Hirokazu Kobayashi Sensei, Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei, or in schools close to the Yagyu style of kenjutsu. These weapons are also often recommended to women, children, as well as to practitioners who suffer from shoulder pain.

Heavy Weapons

Heavy weapons including Iwama Ryu and Keishi Ryu Bokken, 27 and 30 mm Jo, or weapons made of sunuke and ebony are used for "tanren" (reinforcement) work. These bokken may also be used to practice suburi. They allow work to develop power and enhance grip. It is not recommended to start with this type of weapon given the physical constraints that they imposed.

More Information on Available Woods

Click on the "open" buttons to compare different woods.

Ichii Kashi (Standard Red Oak)

Ichii Kashi is a term used to refer to a red wood with characteristics that are so close to red oak that they are often confused, even in Japan. The Ichii Kashi remains an excellent wood since it is the choice for the "standard" Bokken used by the Japanese army (also manufactured by our craftsman). A little lighter than the Hon Akagashi, and almost as solid, this wood makes this Bokken / Jo perfect for beginners or for the Dojo. All in all, given wood resistance, availability, sustainability, and quality, red oak is our main recommendation.

Hon Akagashi (Deluxe Red Oak)

Akagashi, the Japanese Red Oak (Quercus acutissima) is a tree that grows in southern Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku...). It requires moist soil and plenty of sunshine, since in addition to the tree species, the environment is a key factor in determining the quality of the wood. Unlike European oak, Japan oak floats in water, it is moderately hard and therefore, more resilient to shocks, making it an ideal wood for manufacturing Bokken. The red oak is also a bit lighter than the white. "Hon Akagashi" is called true red oak, as opposed to the standard akagashi (Ichii Kashi). Its color is darker than the Ichigashi (standard) and it is slightly stronger. It is now a very rare wood, and we only offer one single weapon made of Hon Akagashi at this time, the Aramaki Kotobuki Bokken.

Shirakashi (White Oak)

Shirakashi, the white Oak of Japan (Quercus acutissima), is a tree that grows in southern Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku). It requires moist soil and plenty of sunshine, since in addition to the tree species, the environment is a key factor in determining the quality of the wood. Unlike European oaks, Japan oak floats in water, it is moderately hard, and therefore, more resilient to shocks, making it an ideal wood for manufacturing Bokken. White oak is slightly heavier than red oak, slightly denser and therefore more resistant, it is the wood essence of choice for manufacturing excellence Bokken made for contacts. White oak used for the manufacture of our Bokken is selected within the limits of timber availability, but the highest quality white oak is getting rare.

Isu No Ki (Distilium racemocum)

"Isu no ki" literally means "wood chair" and it takes its name from the fact that it has long been used in the manufacture of quality furniture. This wood is also traditionally used in the manufacture of talismans since legend ascribes it the power to bind people and things (musubi). It is a harder wood, and therefore slightly less resilient than oak, but more beautiful (near sunuke), softer, and therefore more pleasant to touch. The isu no ki is from the same tree as the sunuke but younger, or taken from other parts than the trunk. Isu no Ki color can vary significantly depending on the tree age from light pink to brown (Bokken, Jo & Tanto can present different colors, even when ordered as a set). Isu no Ki wood may present imperfections and is not suitable for contact practice.

Sunuke (heart of Distilium racemocum)

The Sunuke (Hamamelidaceae) comes from 250 and 400 years old "Isu no ki" trees. Logging quotas established by the government of the archipelago on this tree make it a rare and precious wood. With its dark brown color, Sunuke is a very dense and heavy wood, it sustains shocks relatively poorly. The "cheap" Sunuke Bokken are usually dyed. Our weapons are all guaranteed 100% natural Sunuke. The Sunuke weapons are particularly heavy and are not suitable for full contact practice. They are excellent however for practice Suburi or to practice Kata for the development of Tenouchi and Tanren work. Note that Sunuke made weapons weight can significantly vary depending on available material.
Sunuke has become a very rare wood and it is expected to become unavailable for weapon products relatively soon.

Tsubaki (Camelia Japonica)

The Tsubaki (Camelia Japonica) is a tree that is found throughout the southern part of Japan and it can reach over 500 years of age. This tree is used since immemorial times in Japanese crafts to make various objects of everyday life such as dishes and furnitures. Its uniform color makes it an ideal wood for making decorative Bokken, though they are also ideal for practice. In recent years, the camellia has been used to replace the legendary Biwa wooden Bokken. Indeed, the Biwa is extremely rare and expensive (regular price for a Bokken in real Biwa is approximately 100,000 JPY, the Bokken sold at cheap rate under the "Biwa" label are in reality made of Tsubaki). Camellia is very close to the Biwa, both by its appearance and by its characteristics, both impact resistant, lightweight, and very pleasant to the touch. Unlike Sunuke, Tsubaki is more flexible, resilient, and therefore stronger. However, it is lighter, making it an excellent practice Bokken for flexibility and precision, especially for women. Certainly less strong than white oak, we do not recommend it for full contact practice, but it will sustain shocks relatively well.

Ipe (Tabebuia serratifolia)

Ipe is similar to Sunuke in terms of weight, and similar to Shima Kokutan in terms of resistance yet, a little heavier. Ipe (Tabebuia serratifolia) is one of the many woods that is called "ironwood" because of its extreme weight and hardness. This means it is not meant for contact practice, but rather for Suburi practice, light contact, and for display. Not that is breaks easily but when it does, it splinters in a way that may be dangerous. It would also surely break Bokken made of other woods easily, hence dangerous for hard contact practice.

Tagayasan (Senna Siamea) - OUT OF STOCK Since Dec 2020

Tagayasan, officially called Senna Siamea or Siamese cassia is a medium-size tree, that mainly grows in Southern Asia. The timber combines characteristics of Sunuke and Asian Ebony (Shima Kokutan). In Japanese it is also called "Tettoboku", which means "Iron sword wood", because it is considered as one of the hardest wood possible, so hard that it does sometimes break the metal tools used to carve it.
Its weight is close to Sunuke, but it is as dark brown and resistant as Shima Kokutan, (Asian Ebony). Because Tagayasan wood is rigid and does not absorb shocks very well, we advise against using it for intense contact practice. However, as a piece of display, light partner work, solo practice and of course, , it is an exquisite product.

Hon Biwa (Japanese Loquat)

The term of Loquat (also called Japanese Medlar), or "Eriobotrya Japonica" in scientific terms, includes several subspecies, and the type of wood used for the production of this particular model is the one that has been used for hundreds of years in Japan for the manufacture of exceptional weapons. Mainly grown for it's yellow fruit, is a small tree (average of 3 to 4 m) that needs an extensive amount of time to reach 5 to 10 m, the minimum height required to harvest long enough node free material to produce a Bokken. If the tree itself is widely spread around the world, old and massive enough trunks are very rare and Loquat tree of more than 5 m are subject to drastic cutting quotas which explain the massive increasing in price over the past decades.
Well selected high quality Biwa makes the best wood possible for Bokken manufacture. Bokken made from biwa are incredibly resilient, solid, well balanced, and very pleasant to touch.

Buna (Fagus crenata)

Buna (Fagus crenata) is a wood that grows throughout Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu. It is very popular in the art of Bonsai for the beauty of its barks and leaves. This wood has a very clear yellow color with darker shades, it is pleasant to the touch, strong and very light. This wood is used in the manufacturing of Bokken for its lightness and its original appearance. We recommend this model for practitioners seeking a light weight but who still need a Bokken that can sustain accidental impacts. It is particularly suited for children and practitioners suffering from shoulder pain.

Murasaki Kokutan (Purple Ebony) - OUT OF STOCK Since 2018

Also called Tetsuboku (ironwood), purple ebony has a very pleasant smell and a very characteristic amber color, the wood is slightly rough to the touch. It fits between Asian Sunuke and ebony. Its density makes it a heavy wood, perfectly suited for practicing of suburi, ideal for practitioners who like to practice with a heavy bokken. It is however necessary to keep it away from humidity and temperature changes that could have an adverse effect on the quality of the wood.

Shima Kokutan (Asian Ebony)

Shima Kokutan (Ebenaceae diospyros) is a broad leaf evergreen that grows mainly in South Asia and throughout Indonesia. It is a very slow growing tree, and only trees over 200 years old can be used in the manufacture of Bokken. Shima in Japanese means "striped", it is so named because this wood is characterized by clearer (brown) lines inside its black ebony. This tree produces a very heavy and very hard wood commonly used for furniture and luxury items. It will be suited to the practice of Suburi or for decoration. Very hard, very dense, it absorbs shocks relatively poorly and is not advised for practice with contact. Note that Kokutan made weapons weight can significantly vary depending on available material.

Hon Kokutan (African Ebony)

African Ebony has been used for thousands of years for many purposes, but unsustainable harvesting the past decades resulted on drastic cutting quotas and therefore in a massive price increase. Due to its hardness, African ebony is very difficult to work, which is also one of the main reasons for ebony item expensive price. The ebony used by our craftsmen is legally imported in Japan in small quantities.
The wood is exceptionally dense (one of the heaviest wood on earth), strong, and stiff, and makes wonderful Suburi Bokken but is not meant for heavy contact practice.

Comparison of Different Wood (for Classic Shape Bokken)

Wood	Origin	Bokken Weight	Toughness	Utilization	Price
Ichii Kashi (standard red oak)	South Japan - Kyushu	450 ~ 500 g	***	Beginner	*
Hon Akagashi (deluxe red oak)	South Japan - Kyushu	480 ~ 580 g	****	Contact	**
Shirakashi White Oak	South Japan - Kyushu	500 ~ 600 g	****	Contact	**
Isu no Ki	South Japan - Kyushu	480 ~ 580 g	***	Kata - Women	***
Sunuke	South Japan - Kyushu	600 ~ 700 g	**	Suburi - Present	****
Tsubaki (Camellia japonica)	South Japan - Kyushu	450 ~ 500 g	***	Women - Present	****
Hon Biwa Japanese Loquat	South Japan - Kyushu	520 ~ 580 g	*****	Everything !	******
Buna	South Japan - Kyushu	350 ~ 400 g	**	Children - Women	**
Ipe	South America	600 ~ 700 g	**	Suburi - Present	***
Tagayasan	Southern Asia	600 ~ 700 g	**	Suburi - Present	***
Shima Kokutan Asia Ebony	East Asia	700 ~ 750 g	**	Suburi - Present	*****
Hon Kokutan African Ebony	African (Gaboon or Cameroon)	750 ~ 800 g	**	Suburi - Present	******

As a living material, wood color and weight may vary significantly from one weapon to another.

Engraving

All our wooden weapons can be engraved. Simply add the customization to the product before adding it to the cart.
Please note that engravings are made at our workshop twice weekly, and that it extends shipping time usually only from 4 to 6 days.

Interviews with Bokken craftsmen

Customer Reviews

Based on 45 reviews

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A

Anonymous (Little Silver, US)

Smooth as silk
I just received this Bokken today, the wood is beautiful and "Smooth as Silk" (fine silk), quite a work of fine art. It is very well balanced and a bit lighter than my white oak bokken. It is definitely a rare find - My Thanks to Seido Shop.

D

David H (Prague, Czech republic)

The Bokken
Beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Elegant, beautiful, precise and solid. Really recommend.

J

Jean-François PONCET

Magnifique
Ce boken est magnifique.
Superbe réalisation dans un bois dense à la couleur chaude.
Il me tarde de l'essayer

M

Musashi (Paris)

Magnifique
Je ne regrette absolument pas mon achat je ne pensais pas qu'il serait aussi résistant.

J

Josh (United States, Maryland)

Beautiful and Practical
My Sunuke bokken took over three months to arrive but it was well worth the wait! By happy coincidence it happened to arrive on my birthday back in March and I have been using it for Suburi practice almost every day since then. It is truly a joy to handle, neither too light nor too heavy, and makes for a beautiful display piece when not in use. I'm looking forward to my next order from Seido!

Thank you very much for your review.
And it is the last batch the workshop was able to manufacture, it's probable you got one of the very last Sunuke Bokken that will ever be manufactured!

C

ChimeraSF (USA / Chimera SF)

Beautiful
This is quite beautiful. Get one while you can! I may just get a second one while they are available

P

PUJAZON ALAIN (SANARY/FRANCE)

Très beau boken
Boken de grande qualité. Parfois lourd pour l'entraînement intensif. Bois superbe et agréable mais réclame de l'attention pour une utilisation régulière avec des chocs puissants. Le boken reste très beau et est bien équilibré. Beaucoup de plaisir pour une utilisation individuelle et facilite l'ensemble des mouvements à l'entrainement par son équilibre et son touché.

団

団塊の世代 (現在無所属、隠居生活満喫中)

スヌケ・鍔段有・ニス無・悪戦苦闘。
8/19発注・9/1納品、椿油で拭いながら鑑賞して一週間、ひびを発見。。。
おもての鎬、柾目筋に沿って0.1mm程の深さで幅100mm程の亀裂、ぱっと見では分からないが、灯りにかざして見ると、全体の濃茶の中で傷の部分だけが薄茶でくっきり浮かび上がる。
愕然としたが、全般の木目・姿は素晴らしく、材料も希少価値のスヌケであり、捨てがたい、打ち合うわけでも無く機能的には問題無いので、観察したが二週間で猛暑の故か、幅が150mmに拡大した。
木剣は10本所有しており、保管には十分に注意しているが、亀裂は初めての経験である。
とにかく「亀裂以外が素晴らしく、この景色は二度と入手出来ない。」
何度も悩みながら、漆で処理することにした、砥の粉と生漆の練ったものを擦込み、生漆の拭漆で処理してみた。
結果は、練り込んだものが黒茶に変色して普通の木目の線となり、自然の景色になった。
漆で強度も増して、胸を撫で下ろして鑑賞している。
レビューに書くかどうか迷いましたが、木剣も生き物、こういうことも有り、処置も有る、と言うことを知ってもらいたく愚書致しました。

D

Dominique (Grand Baie - Maurice)

Equipe, matériel et envoi très professionnels
Le suivi du colis et le dédouanement se sont bien passes, 16 jours en tout mais ici c'est le bout du monde. L’équipe Seido suit tous les colis et envoie un mail a chaque étape. Merci a vous.
Le boken en Tsubaki (Camellia japonica) est une merveille. Finition, couleur reflets abricot, équilibre, poids, un bonheur a manier. Le prix est tout a fait justifié, le bois et les artisans qualifiés devenant rares au Japon.
Je compte commander d'autres articles auprès de Seido.

団

団塊世代 (現在無所属、隠居生活満喫中。)

木剣に魅了されて。
71歳です、真剣の世界で過ごして来ました。50年使い古した赤樫の木刀じっくり観ていたら、
急に、木工作品として興味が出て来ました。
今回は椿を購入、構えた第一印象は、軽い。。。打ち合う勇気が出ない。。。500gでした。
他の木刀は、700～900g、居合刀も同様、真剣は900g～1.5㎏を使っています。
とにかく打つには怖い。鍛錬の素振りには軽すぎる。。剣を触れない演武には使える。。。です。
しかし、美しい、椿油を充分に吸わせると木目が浮き出て命を感じます。
真剣・特に古刀の鍛え肌に通じた感触、反り・切っ先・峯等の職人技も堪能出来ます。
まだ、昔スポーツ店で購入した赤樫・スヌケしか知りませんが、他の材質・職人にも触れたくなりました。
美術工芸品としては、素晴らしいです。

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For compliance reasons, reviews placed in French and Japanese and imported here on February 2024 do not display as 'verified'.
When importing Japanese reviews, the impossibility to automatically determine the presence of a familly name forced us to label all Japanese reviews as 'anonymous' (Familly names in roman characters have been filtered out).

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Deluxe Bokken - Exotic Wood - Tsubaki (Camellia Japonica): ¥19,400

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