These Shiai Naginata are made in the traditional heartland of Japanese wooden weapons - Miyakonojo, Kyushu. Using only locally sourced materials and made by the traditional craftsmen at the Aramaki workshop, they are beautiful examples of Japanese craftsmanship.
Designed purposefully for naginata shiai they all conform to the All Japan Naginata Federation's regulations regarding shiai equipment. The e-bu (haft) can be made from either Red or White Japanese Oak with an oil or varnish finish respectively. This is then attached to the ha-bu (cutting edge) that is made from a specially constructed and sprung bamboo slats - the two components are fitted together using white vinyl tape.
The naginata are approximately 220cm long, with about 50cm of that being "blade" length, they are well balanced for all practitioners. Particularly tall practitioners can take advantage of our extra long White Oak version that is approximately 225cm. As a rough guide this is recommended for practitioners who are around and above 175cm in height.
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Red Oak Naginata is oil treated. White Oak, however, is completely untreated. For a 'how to' guideon waxing wooden weapons, please check out our walk-through video, "How to wax bokken."
