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Product Description
In 2005 the Hiroshima wookworking company Iwata Mokko launched a new brand of kendama, the Mugen. The quality of this kendama, with its flawless and unusual paint colors (gold, wine, etc.) surpassed anything that had come before, and its fans wanted to wear their Mugens with pride on their belts, in the fashion that Gan of Yatterman anime fame wears his KendaMagic kendama.
Kazuma Iwata, the 20-something craftsman in charge of Iwata Mokko's kendama production, heard these appeals and over the next year spoke with leather goods contractors, sourced materials, made prototypes and designed the ideal kendama holder. Kazuma was determined to produce the highest quality kendama holster possible.
In 2006 a limited edition of 100 kendama holders was announced on Kazuma's blog. Despite the high price there was a heavy initial demand, and production was increased to 200. These were over-the-top deluxe quality leather products. The designer-handbag-grade leather alone cost Iwata Mokko's contractor 4,200 yen per holster (about $45).
After the initial orders from the blog post responses were fulfilled, there were a couple of dozen kendama holders left over. Iwata Mokko had sold the kendama holders at a loss as a service to its loyal fans, and they didn't want to make any more and lose any more money.
They didn't want to risk disappointing customers by putting the remaining stock up for sale and quickly selling out. So the remaining kendama holders have languished in storage at Iwata Mokko ever since then. And as most kendama fans know, in early 2008 Iwata Mokko withdrew from kendama-related business altogether to concentrate on its other business lines.
Kendama.net stumbled upon the fact of the existence of these kendama holsters during a recent discussion with Iwata Mokko, and a deal was struck for us to buy the entire lot to sell to our customers.
The leather is exquisite. The stitching is hand punched and hand stitched. On the back is a belt loop with a snap. The kendama goes into a holster loop that folds in a little at the top to cradle the sarado. The bottom of the ken protrudes just enough to show off the official JKA certification seal. A leather flap holds the kendama firmly in place with a velcro tab, with a narrow slot to reveal the ball's color. The leather cords used to stitch the holster hang down rakishly below the kendama holder - many owners followed Kazuma's lead and strung beads on the hanging leather cords, while others clipped them off. To finish off the holster the flap is embossed with two Japanese kanji characters (they say "Mugen," if you must know). Some of the holsters include a black nylon web strap that can be used to affix the holster to a daypack or hang it from your shoulder (although the material clashes with the fine leather in our opinion).
We picked up some other items from Iwata Mokko (we cleaned out their warehouse, actually), so check our catalog for T-shirts and wrist bands. We also purchased the absolute last lot of leftover Mugens that anyone will ever buy directly from Iwata Mokko, but we will be using those for prizes and promotions.
Kazuma Iwata, the 20-something craftsman in charge of Iwata Mokko's kendama production, heard these appeals and over the next year spoke with leather goods contractors, sourced materials, made prototypes and designed the ideal kendama holder. Kazuma was determined to produce the highest quality kendama holster possible.
In 2006 a limited edition of 100 kendama holders was announced on Kazuma's blog. Despite the high price there was a heavy initial demand, and production was increased to 200. These were over-the-top deluxe quality leather products. The designer-handbag-grade leather alone cost Iwata Mokko's contractor 4,200 yen per holster (about $45).
After the initial orders from the blog post responses were fulfilled, there were a couple of dozen kendama holders left over. Iwata Mokko had sold the kendama holders at a loss as a service to its loyal fans, and they didn't want to make any more and lose any more money.
They didn't want to risk disappointing customers by putting the remaining stock up for sale and quickly selling out. So the remaining kendama holders have languished in storage at Iwata Mokko ever since then. And as most kendama fans know, in early 2008 Iwata Mokko withdrew from kendama-related business altogether to concentrate on its other business lines.
Kendama.net stumbled upon the fact of the existence of these kendama holsters during a recent discussion with Iwata Mokko, and a deal was struck for us to buy the entire lot to sell to our customers.
The leather is exquisite. The stitching is hand punched and hand stitched. On the back is a belt loop with a snap. The kendama goes into a holster loop that folds in a little at the top to cradle the sarado. The bottom of the ken protrudes just enough to show off the official JKA certification seal. A leather flap holds the kendama firmly in place with a velcro tab, with a narrow slot to reveal the ball's color. The leather cords used to stitch the holster hang down rakishly below the kendama holder - many owners followed Kazuma's lead and strung beads on the hanging leather cords, while others clipped them off. To finish off the holster the flap is embossed with two Japanese kanji characters (they say "Mugen," if you must know). Some of the holsters include a black nylon web strap that can be used to affix the holster to a daypack or hang it from your shoulder (although the material clashes with the fine leather in our opinion).
We picked up some other items from Iwata Mokko (we cleaned out their warehouse, actually), so check our catalog for T-shirts and wrist bands. We also purchased the absolute last lot of leftover Mugens that anyone will ever buy directly from Iwata Mokko, but we will be using those for prizes and promotions.
Additional Information
| SKU | holster |
