Company profile

Company Name Budō Co., Ltd
President Masaru Kuriyama
Main Address Chiba 290-0056
Kuriyama’s Career and Background
1950 Born in Kisarazu City
1968 Began apprenticeship with Kendo craftsman, Kinjiro Takahashi
1976 Opened Kobudō branch store in Kisarazu
1977 Opened Kobudō branch store in Ichihara
1981 Established Budō , Ltd in Kisarazu
1987 Established Budō store in Funabashi
1991 Established Budō , Ltd Funabashi and Ichihara

Kendo crafstman Tokichi Nakatomi, had worked as the head of the “Takeya
Kendo Store”, established in the early Meiji Era. He later opened his own store,
“Kobudo” in Saitama Prefecture. Nakatomi was renowned as an expert Kendo
craftsman praised as the best swords-craftsman in japan. Here he mentored
Kinjiro Takahashi, who himself later opened a store under the namesake
“Kobudo” in Chiba, 1926.
Our store specializes in Kendo equipment made in the Takeya style (Nakatomi
style), including swords, head gear (called “men”), hand and forearm protectors
(koté) and body protectors (dō and taré). We also offer products for other
martial arts such as judo, karate and Iai. Our products and swords are carefully
finished one by one by skilled craftspersons. We make our products with the
intention of keeping them light, easy to use and durable while sourcing from the
finest materials. We also offer custom made swords, repairs, size adjustments
and care products, so please feel free to contact us (English by email only)

{Takeya Style}
The Takeya style has been around since the Edo period. Kendo translates to “the
way of the sword”. There are two types of Kendo making: dividing the “bōgu”set, each part of the set is made by a separate craftsperson; and a method
where all parts are made by one craftsperson. In the Takeya style, one
craftsperson makes an entire set.

{Takeya Style Features}
1. Light, easy to use and durable
2. Simply designed
3. Takeya-Nakatomi style tarés are flared to improve the look