REZ= 1,000 Rizen=10 Haven't even tried both yet to know that, but because I've seen enough of Kris's process, work, etc this is a foregone conclusion
For real here, this isn't helpful. We all know Rez is better, the price and time behind it shows that, give us some info from someone that has used both, not just random blind hate for an entire company.
Here are - some less than high quality camera phone - pictures of a REZ Canvas Stripe (red) and a custom Rizen sold at Time Zone Toys in town.
I haven't really gotten to jam it out to get a real feel for it, but it honestly isn't the totally worse ken like people seem to make it out to be. There are some things about it that don't compare to REZ though (not a hater of Rizen, just stating what I found when I first tried out their ken and compared it to my own REZ) 1. They aren't as cleanly made as REZ. Air bubbles make the ken and sarado very porous and a bit unappealing. 2. Long spike and (like stated in the other REZ Rizen thread) the sarado is very much literally placed on the ken upside down. 3. Ken doesn't seem very balanced. 4. The tamas that were made along side these kens were far heavier than I anticipated them to be, were very eggy and more oval shaped than perfectly round, and the bevel was almost non-existent. All in all, it seems that in order to make a stock quantity to sell on their site they sacrificed quality a bit more than they could have.
I totally agree. Instead of bashing and spreading negativity to any person, team, or company we need to remember we're all a part of the same community and give out any help we can give. Instead of calling Rizen a poor quality REZ, let's offer some constructive points to help them become better as a company. From what I've seen the players repped by Rizen are all great players and people. It's very disheartening that so much negative vibes are being thrown to the company that they support with all they've got
The points I made above I believe they can remedy to truly make a niche for themselves in the kendama world
Helping rizen out would be telling them to stop doing everything they are currently doing / have done and do something that isn't blatantly ripping off another small company, make a product that isn't embarrassingly unprofessional, and stop bashing the company that they are ripping off. They're only getting what they're giving; I've heard plenty accounts of Rizen and the owners bashing Kris saying he has "no idea what he's doing" and me personally for criticizing his company. So it's been tried, all the criticism, constructive or not, has not gotten through to them. As much as we all want it, kendama isn't always friendly and family as we perceive it to be. I made a video that's dropping tomorrow that's a comparison of Rez to Rizen, give it a watch for info, or don't. Up to you.
If that's the case then i guess it's no use going that way. Again, personally i am not a hater of Rizen but after seeing REZ's quality, both on instagram and in person after finally getting my first true REZ, I understand where you're coming from when saying rizen is ripping Kris off. As an artist myself, I appreciate the work he puts into each ken on a totally different level (i bet @Jenny Cho and other dama artists can agree with me on this too). We all want our art to be as perfect as possible and I think it was you who posted earlier about how he wont put a ken for sale if he isnt absolutely satisfied with the end result. It's very saddening that rizen doesnt have the same kind of pride in their work. But if they want to stay in the current niche they have as the 'cheap man's REZ' then that's where they'll be staying. I dont see myself really buying a rizen, because I just cant appreciate the lack of pride shown in each ken they work on.
Just watched your video @damon and really appreciated the insight. Besides the metal ring in the sarado, you pointed out everything I saw when i compared my own REZ to the rizen at the toystore in my city. Again, it's really impressive the amount or work that Kris puts into every ken he makes to ensure that those who buy one will be 100% satisfied.
@damon Yea that video was an amazing way to show off the two products, and although you kept saying you were biased you did a really good job of just presenting the facts that you had, and showing off the differences in the kendamas without throwing too much of your opinion into it. Definetly looking to grab a Rez at the next drop, or if I win the current contest.
So let's recap. REZ= A pair of rare Air Jordan's that people would kill for RIZEN= A pair of neon CROCs worn with mismatching socks REZ= A Formula One Racecar RIZEN= A knockoff Razor scooter with crooked handle bars REZ= Mother Teresa RIZEN= Twisted Sister REZ= The Pax Romana RIZEN= The whole of Europe from 1939 to 1945