Budo, Kobudo & Japanese Artisanry - The Seido Blog

In Japan, calligraphy, ink drawing, and painting are traditionally displayed on a kakejiku (also called sometimes kakemono). It's a lengthy scroll-like composition made of fabric and paper that's linked to a jiku, the central wooden pole.

There are various types (and sub-styles) of Kakejiku, each having its own layout and proportions, but we'll focus on the three most common in this article.

The fabric used to make a kakejiku is referred to as "kireji" (裂地). Kireji's function, similar to that of a frame in Western painting, is to highlight the calligraphy or artwork; therefore picking the proper one is crucial to creating a beautiful composition.

It may seem strange to those unfamiliar with calligraphy, but ink is traditionally sold as solid sticks rather than liquid, and each calligrapher must grind down his ink sticks with water on a specific stone called suzuri, before he can start brushing.

Discover everything you need to know about Ink Sticks in this article written by calligraphy artist Fuh-Mi

Congratulations! You’ve made a beautiful investment for your martial art school or for your home interior. 

Japanese calligraphies and hanging scrolls are designed to last. Hundreds of years. Your kakejiku will be a lasting masterpiece with minimal maintenance. Here's all you need to know about looking after your new artwork.

Murayama Token is one of the oldest Iaito workshops and certainly the most prolific nowadays. It is one of the workshops at the origin of the Iaito, a small family business, the kind of business we always wanted to support. At least, until recently. Here comes the story of our collaboration with Murayama Token, from beginning to end.

Last January, I published an article on the future of wooden weapons craftsmanship in Japan. 
After the closing of the Horinouchi workshop who held about 40% of the production, the production capacity dropped and the situation quickly became critical.
Where are we one year later? Well, it's not looking good, not at all.

Kimura Jiro Shihan is a Japanese Aikido teacher, the successor of Kobayashi Hirokazu Shihan in Japan, and director of the Buikukai. In 2018, Guillaume Erard, a Daito Ryu practitioner and Aikido historian, and Jordy Delage - who started Aikido in a group affiliated to Kobayashi Hirokazu - teamed up for a joint interview held at the master’s Dojo in Osaka. This is the story of this encounter!

What’s a Fukuroshinai? How is it made? Where did it comes from? In this detailed article, you'll find all the informations you need.

Nowadays, the term "made in japan" has lost its meaning. How can you be sure what you are buying? Analysis of the situation.

In September 2019, the Horinouchi workshop who held about 40% of the production of all made in Japan wooden weapons, closed its doors forever. This article comes back to the reasons of that event, the state of the industry and how the prices of the products will evolve in 2020.