What modern kendama (let's say within the last 2 years) would you guys consider the equivalent, or closest to, to the original Mugen kendama?
By what metric, value at the time, playability, popularity, current secondary market value, visuals, etc. ? Are you comparing against all kendama or just JKA kendama? I think a good part of the cache of the Mugen is the fact that it's no longer produced and had some novel paints for the time. That it left the market under "mysterious,", read unknown, circumstances adds to the perception that it was something mythical as do the sometimes crazy secondary market prices. I wonder if the Ozora had been phased out after the OG (lead painted) versions if they too would have something similar to the fame of the Mugen. As for modern kendama with cult-like following I'd probably go with REZ even more so if it had offered a complete kendama (not including the wood ones here). A novel and artistic product held to very high standards that performs.
I thought about this last night after I posted this. - Impact on the kendama community. Both as a whole (how the community perceives it) and on the playability, innovations and manufacturing of kendamas (shape, size, material, paint, etc). - Novelty and rarity (does not have to necessarily be a currently discontinued kendama). - Resale value
Based on the Criteria, and like what has already been mentioned above, REZ kens seem to fit the bill the most. Impact on the kendama community: One of the pioneers of kens made from alternative materials. Also, playability, from what I heard, is on point. Novelty and Rarity: The drops themselves were already small batch. Now that they're discontinued, they'll be even rarer. Resale Value: REZ Kens, even if they've been played, go for quite a hefty amount nowadays due to the lack of supply.
I've seen older, original GT-1 setups be held in similar regards, especially on resale posts on FKC. With Grain Theory completely phasing out GT-1s and making themselves easily accessible with GT-E1s, the old GT-1/1.5 kendamas seem to go for fairly high costs (especially the ones in mint condition). It goes a bit beyond the time frame I set myself, but also the original white Zen Stripes from KenCo. I've never had the opportunity to play one myself, the only one I've played before was the ones they dropped just before they closed up but I have heard people say it was a game changer (the paint).
Grips! So classic OG ozoras (leaded paint) should be worth a little bit these days. Maybe $80-100 for a fresh green?