This. I can't really describe it either, but something about how the slicker paint allows it to slide a bit and how sloppy tricks dont somehow happen. Feels so nice to pick up a JKA dama once in a while.
Hey @goenKendama , do you know why some of the Did you ever figure out if there is any tangible difference between the Meijin Kiwami (no hologram) and the Meijin Takumi (with hologram)? Seems like they only made the meijin kiwami for like 3 months!
I think the name change was just Kashimaya working out their marketing. They're a sports/toy related producer not just a kendama producer so it's all kind of new to them. They are seriously dedicated to promoting kendama though. I've met with them quite a few times and have worked on a project with schools in Cebu (Philippines). My understanding is that there were both Meijin Kiwami and Meijin Takumi without the hologram JKA seal (old style). The most recent Meijin Takumi has the hologram JKA seal but that was the only change AFAIK. I also believe that the factory producing the Meijin Takumi was audited by the JKA to insure that the specs were being met. There is a possibility that any changes/differences that will be noticed from the old TK16 and future Meijin Takumi will come from any adjustments made after that audit. Kashimaya has 70-80 years in toys and sports product and they seem pretty hard core about quality control and checking tolerances and whatnot. It's really good to hear their approach to business and production and I'm looking forward to seeing good things from them in the future.
White seal looks nice! What are all the JKA brands now? I feel like its changed drastically the past couple years, and I've honestly lost track of what the new brands are (mostly, I feel like I confuse the brand/producer with the model name). There are: Ozora (yellow seal) Meijin (blue-ish seal. the 'TK16 replacement') Gentosha Nintei (red seal, but I've only seen minis so far) Kodama (white seal) And there are the yumu recommended, but I won't could those quite yet. Any I've missed?
@htimSxelA Yellow - Ozora (by Yamagata Koubou) Blue - Meijin Takumi (by Kashimaya) Red - Standard One-16, Hajimete no Kendama (by Gentosha) White - Kodama (by Ikeda Industries) Turquoise - Yumu Sticky, Yumu Pro Racing, Yumu Super Paint (by Yumu) (this one ain't confirmed as of yet, but last i checked, Spingear seems to be interested in making a JKA certified kendama)
Shop in Akihabara district, Tokyo. Main thing is yo-yos, but they carry a good stock of damas, and other skill toys too. I’d call it a must see for any dama player visiting Tokyo!
One of the world's largest online yoyo stores! (Hence the name Spin-gear.) They have two outlets in Tokyo, but the most frequented one is in Akihabara, as @htimSxelA mentions. Definitely a must-see alongside Su-lab and muumuu coffee!
I think that one might be dead for now. I asked the JKA about it yesterday and there doesn't appear to be anything going on at least on their end.
Updating JKA megathread with the YUMU lineup: https://www.downspike.com/threads/first-look-new-jka-kendama-from-yumu.3870/
Have definitely been waiting for this drop since a couple weeks after MKO. Got my eyes on that turquoise!
Didn't see a clear shot of the Gentosha JKA "certified" kendama so this is for reference (recently came out with purple too). They also make a full size "recommended" called the Standard One-16 and a junior sized "recommended" kendama, discussed above, called Hajimete no Kendama.
Just got a box of the new Yumu JKA's! here's a micro-review: First Impression The dama comes in a clear plastic box, with an extra string that matches the color of the Tama. The string is nice quality (nylon?) and thicker and silkier than most. You also get a bunch of stickers and a japanese trick guide that is similar to a Tk-16 Paint / tama I can't believe this got JKA certified. The closest thing I can think of is DWI sticky AF paint, but slightly less sticky. The tama has a ring for tracking, and the hole is pretty big. not eggy to the eye test. Ken The kenta needed some mods to get to my personal specs. Sarado rides REALLY high, but a quick sandpaper job helped it get down to the sweet spot. Cups are standard JKA size. Shape and feel is kind of like one of the new shin fuji's. Overall Fun, reliable JKA approved dama that is great for a daily grind. The ken isnt breaking new ground, but the tama could signal a new era for the JKA. Lunars easy; this aint the TK-16 ice.
Nice review. Been wondering how the paint plays, bought the turquoise color myself too and will probably put it on a different ken tbh. Hoping it comes in tomorrow (Monday).
I was able to play with the Gentosha kendama a few days ago at the @goenKendama shop. I could compare the paint to an OG White Ozora paint, but slightly stickier. The ken feels great as well, almost like an (again) Ozora but with what I felt was a thicker ken below the Sarado. I like the kendama overall, especially if you can get it at a good price.
Hey y'all JKA n00b here. I have very limited knowledge and 0 experience with JKA kendamas (I do have a natty Tk coming in the mail). So, it seems from this thread that there is a massive world of JKA damas, and I'm not going to pretend like I understand, so can you guys give me a bucketlist of JKA damas that would be good to buy in the future? Looking for variety of wood types, paint types, shapes, and whatever else. And also, if you recommend something, could you briefly describe the dama?
Welcome to the wonderful world of JKA kendamas! You'll love it here! As for me, I do have some recommendations for JKA kendamas: Red TK-16. You already have a natty TK coming in the mail, but you should try the most classic kendama in the game: the Red TK16. KUSA claims that this kendama was the kendama that "traveled across the pacific and started it all." Icy as hell, no bevel at all, solid birch construction, and the best ken shape ever (nothing beats a TK ken, in my opinion). No training wheels, just awesomeness. Ozora Keyaki. Most people live and die by this natty kendama. The keyaki is almost like ash, but has a more beautiful grain and color (and an infamous smell). Pair that with the Classic Ozora shape and you're gucci. Yellow Ozora. Scoop this up because they're a discontinued color of Ozora, plus the paint is lead-based "OG" ozora paint, which breaks in awesomely. The New Yumu JKA kendama. This is a new school kind of JKA kendama, and you can see why. Sticky paint, clean white tama with 70/30 fade tracking, and a shiny new JKA turquoise seal. Grab it while it's hot! Mugen. Needs no introduction, Kazuma Iwata's stuff is legendary, and if you can get a hand on his old JKA kendamas, you'll love it. Shin Fuji Keyaki. The Shin Fuji is another "OG" JKA kendama that is, unfortunately, no longer in production. 2 things distinguish it from its other JKA bretheren: the ken is made of Keyaki, unlike the birch and beech commonly used with other brands, and the shape is unusually chunky (compared to a slimmer Ozora or TK). You won't be able to find these just anywhere, so cop if you can!
^to this very thoughtful list I add the Shin Fuzzy, a bizarre felt covered tama version of the shin fuji, and a red meijin. It's like a tk-16, but you'll be underground and up your street-cred (at least in north america)
Ref #3: The last Yellow Ozora that were discontinued 2013 weren't "OG" and they didn't have lead based paint. Somewhere I still have the notice from Yamagata Koubou that those Ozora were certified by whatever US agency that regulates toys and lead based paints. Ref #6: Hakushinsya (maker of the Shinfuji) still makes Keyaki with Cherry tama (like the original Shinfuji) and full Keyaki with only minor changes in design to the Shinfuji. Though no longer official JKA certified they still give good play for the money. They called that one a "Soft Touch" kendama and came in both standard size (Shinfuji) and smaller size (Shokendama). Hard to show the "fuzz" in a photo. I might also add a Rokurosen (potter's wheel line) Shinfuji especially now that they are referenced as inspiration for one of the most recent GT releases. From GT: The ROKU design is inspired by the classic Shin Fuji Rokurosen.