I have 2 question. 1) how do the premium sticky's compare to the normal premiums. 2) i already have a year of the snake how would the premiums and premium sticky's compare thanks
Hello friend! Welcome to downspike! 1. I think you may be mistaken. There are only Premium Ozoras; no distinction between "premium stickies" and "normal premiums". All premium ozoras run with a sticky paint. If ever, you may be referring to one of two distinctions: Normal Ozoras have a gloss, slippy coat, while Premium Ozoras have a "sticky" paint OG Premium Ozoras have a sticky paint that is more "tacky" in nature, while Newer Premium ozoras have sticky paint similar to Prime Clear or LOL Clear 2. As far as I know, the Year of the Snake kendama has a gloss paint that isn't tacky at all. Premium ozora tamas would be much stickier. P.S. Kens are the same!
Yeah the year of the ____ ozoras are their regular paint. Premium ozoras will be much sticker @puffer_ boi The reshape is allegedly stickier than premium paint but feels the same to me.
@puffer_ boi We already had a related thread so yours has been merged. There's a ton of other interesting info about JKA kendama here so check out some of the past posts.
Not all Zodiac (Year of the xxxx) are standard glossy paint. The 2016 Year of the Monkey was matte like their current Street series and white with red fade stripe. Next year's Year of the Boar looks like it might be Premium paint but I'll need to confirm.
There was actually a Premium Orange and Premium White which were between Sticky and Glossy. After Premium Gold, most of the premiums went to the sticky premium paint.
"Glossy" Ozora premium paint is the bomb! I own the "Glossy" premium white, and while it isn't sticky like the new Premiums, it has a certain grip that I can't explain. Makes for a perfectly fair clear coat which provides stick while allowing reasonable adjustment.
I believe the OG White (9.2013) was followed by a limited run of Orange for KUSA (end of 2013-first of 2014 IIRC) but I don't know if it was the same as the OG White or like the current Premiums. They re-released orange Premium (2016) for general distribution but for a limited time and also white Premium (2017). The re-releases were like the current Premium paint rather than the OG White.
I remember when the whites came out, I think they did a batch with a different paint very soon after, because it seemed like some people had sticky painted tamas, and others were slick (I have a slick one from that time). The 'OG' orange predates all of those, there was a small batch produced sometime in the late 2000's (I think, maybe 2010?)that was given to JKA competitors at a big yearly contest. Same sort of thing as some of the super-rare colour Mugens (emerald, pokeball, etc). I remember Tajima Akira had one with him at EJC 2012, and the judges wouldn't allow it to be used because it was a JKA recommended seal, not a JKA approved seal.
I think we talked about this somewhere else but I don't recall where. Please refresh my memory was the OG Orange a Premium painted kendama or a standard Ozora painted orange? The ones I mention above were Premiums. Also I have some of the very last OG White Premiums still in stock and they don't feel at all like the current Premiums. A lot of people actually like them better, they don't feel as sticky to your hand but are more grippy to the wood than standard Ozora paint. (Edit: Found it here. Looks like it was really OG but not Premium paint.)
I have an semi - OG Orange (thanks Ryan Cabal) and it's in the Premium Package. I think it was the first 'sticky' premiums after the galaxy ones. They werent sticky tho. The orange I have and the premium OG white feels like the same paint formula.
OK just an update from the guys at Yamagata Koubou (Ozora). 9/2013 - White general release, Orange "limited product" (both are OG Premium paint) 6/2014 - Gold (new Premium paint)
Back when the Orange I was talking about was released, there wasn't any sort of 'Premium paint' branding, so my guess is it was either similar to the 'OG leaded' paint, or maybe something different. I think there are maybe 50-100 in existence, so the only time I've really seen on was at EJC, and I didn't investigate closely. They also released the metallic blue way back when, and it was a different sort of paint. Kinda just slick, not really much playability, but it looked sweet!
Hey guys, a really newbie question. Just watched Colin Sanders' Edit #1 and being able to take a look at what it was 11 years ago and how hyped the guys were really brings me joy. I've been playing for a year and some months now and when I started exploring the kendama world I was introduced to Mugens and Ozoras, always wanted to have one in my collection. So it might be a little awkward to ask but I want to know what are the differences between Ozoras, Mugens, TK16s[I know it stands for turbo kenflip, but what about the 16?] (if that's not an ozora or a mugen) and everything else about them. I can see the JKA seal on all of them but i know there's more to learn and I feel that I have to know about them and where everything started from, explore the origins and learn about the people who started it all. I had a good history lesson from the edit, about Kazuma Iwata and his father, but I need more. Feel free to tell me everything you know, I'm super curious and excited.
Welcome to the wonderland of JKA kendamas!!! I'm a noob myself, but since the Philippine kendama scene has a strong JKA presence and backing, I'd like to give my own insights (at least with how things are now). On the TK16: The TK-16 Master Kendama is allegedly the "kendama that started it all." According to Kendama USA, someone brought a Red TK16 back from Japan to the states, and a Community largely based in extreme sports (Skiing, Rollerblading, Skateboarding, Rock Climbing) picked up the game and started playing when they were stuck indoors during the winter. TK16s were manufactured by Tamiwa Toy in Japan. They sport a green JKA-approved seal, and are made fully from birch. The shape lends itself well to kenflips given its chunky basecup, and it is a favorite for custom setups given it's all around great performance. Its tama is also infamous, both for having no bevel and having the slickest tama around (hence, the term "TK16 Ice"). Overall, TKs are a well loved classic kendama because of their performance, challenge, and durability. Unfortunately, TK16s are no longer being produced as the manufacturer stopped making them a year or two ago (not too sure about the circumstances surrounding this), but there are many new incarnations of the classic floating around. Kendama USA still has them in stock, so grab them while you can. Also, a new company has started making the exact same kendama, but under a different name and with a purple JKA seal. Google "Meijin Takumi Kendama" and see for yourself. In addition to this, GLOKEN made a run of "TK16 Original" kendamas. They aren't JKA-Approved, but are largely based on the original with a new matte paintjob (but still as slick as ever). Hope this helps! I'll see if I can discuss the Ozora and Mugen in the future. Also, check out the JKA Kendamas thread, you might pick up a tidbit or two.
@Danny Malto check out JKA megathread: https://www.downspike.com/threads/mugen-ozora-tk16-history.4586/#post-47140
I would like to add that TK stands for 'Typical Kendama' Not entirely sure where you or anyone got turbo kenflip from.