California Budogu -

Chiu Yin Mak

I have been using the Konjiki Men from California Budogu for 4 practices and am loving every second wearing it. It is an extremely comfortable Men that fits me perfectly. The Mon design for the Tsuki and the deep darker red for the Menbuchi gives this Men an aggressive and elegant look. Compared to my old Men which gives me pain from simply wearing it for 30-45mins, I could go an entire practice without having the need to take off the Konjiki Men. Although the price is steep, the 10% discount code helps ease my wallet, and is still cheaper than some of the other stores. It is definitely worth the money.

The communication I received has been nothing but efficient and helpful. Nathan has been with me through every step of the way ensuring that I inputted the correct measurements of my head, easing my mind when the Men was scheduled to arrive before I came back home by telling me about the EMS service and lastly has been very helpful in providing compensation when the Mendare length was not what I wanted.

I would highly recommend this store to my fellow kendokas and any juniors that are looking to buy a high-quality set of Bogu.

The following is a more detailed review.
Knojiki Men
Positives:
+Great build quality, fits my head perfectly, very comfortable and lightweight. I am actually able to feel the Tenchi compared to my old Men.
+Smells fresh out of the box and continues to smell exquisite after 4 practices.
+The Mendare is easy to shape and can easily maintain the shape. This is good since the Men I received had a smaller length than expected.
+There is an obvious increase in the range of sight due to the Safety Wide View, its is easier to see the Kote.
+The Mon option gives this Men a majestic and dignified appearance.
+The Red/Black option for the Menbuchi. It is a deep and dark red, giving it an aggressive and imposing look while remaining subtle.
+The Bushu Premium Aizome Men Himo is smooth to the touch and has an elegant appearance thanks to the Aizome dye.
+The 10% discount code plus the relatively reasonable price for a full custom makes this Men an affordable option compared to other stores.
Negatives:
-When first wearing this Men, the inside of my Men digs up into the area just behind my chin. However, after wearing it more often, there is less and less discomfort the more I use it.
-Beware of the length of the Mendare. The manufacturer uses a different measuring system than the standard Men. Instead of measuring from the Kannuki it is measured from the horizontal line that connects the Menbuchi to the Mendare. This is not stated on the website. Due to this, when I ordered a 19cm Mendare length, I received a 17cm Mendare when measuring from the Kannuki. I have uploaded a picture that shows this.

Overall, I would give this Men a 9/10. The quality from the manufacturer is top notch and even after 4 practices, it still looks fresh out of the box. The main drawback however is the fact that the Mendare length is 2cm smaller.

Customer Service:
For the customer service I have the pleasure of encountering I would give it a perfect 10/10. The communication with Nathan has been more than excellent,
whenever I had questions or problems Nathan is able to give an informative and helpful answer in a reasonable timeframe.

Nathan was especially helpful with choosing the correct size for the Around Chin, Hacimaki, and the Monomi measurements, making sure that I did not order the wrong size. When I learnt that the Men was to arrive before I came back home from the Christmas holidays, Nathan was able to put my mind at ease by saying that the EMS service requires a signature. In terms of the mishap about the Mendare. Nathan was incredibly helpful in finding a way of compensating me, by giving me a discount on a pair of Kote. He was also quick to find out the cause of the mishap which was the manufacturer using a different measuring technique.

Overall, the customer service is an easy 10/10, one of the best I have ever received and is another reason why I would order from California Budogu again.

Gavin Taylor

Buying experience was fantastic, and communication was equally great! Had a slight mishap with my purchase, Nathan was very helpful in getting everything sorted out and was very knowledgeable. Overall, very impressed with California Budogu and will be using them in the future!

Someone CD

Nathan was an absolutely amazing person during my whole buying process. He gave the best customer service I have ever experienced. I love the way the response to emails is quick whilst also being extremely helpful too. If you ever start buying your first bogu or anything related to Kendo, you should definitely check this store out. I highly recommend it and you will not be disappointed!

Benjamin Wiacek

Just received my first bogu (Amber set) and I absolutely love it!

In one word, my experience has been FANTASTIC. Nathan has spent weeks answering all my questions, demands, existential questions and more, to make sure I get the bogu that I really need, while trying to match the budget I had and my cosmetic desires!

I cannot recommend them enough for the quality of this bogu, Nathan's kindness and generosity and the most amazing customer service I've ever experienced.

evelyn fistler

I recently purchased the amethyst men from california budogu and am extremely satisfied with the overall service and quality of the product! Extremely efficient, my order arrived in a very timely manner which made practice more enjoyable with the new men. I won’t be buying from anywhere else, Nathan has helped me and even followed up after I received the package to ensure it fit well. Thank you to him and his team, they’re truly amazing people that want to make sure your experience in kendo is worthwhile :).

James Vahl, BS, DC

Great company to get your kendo bogu from, California Budogu! The quality of the equipment is incredible and the customer service is outstanding! Nathan is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of helping customers pick out their bogu equipment, and he is lighting fast at answering your emails! Update 2/29/2024. Got some awesome new customized bogu from Nathan. Very high quality bogu! I uploaded some pics of it.

William Pastén

Recently ordered my first set of Bogu from here. Nathan helped me figure out the sizing for my men and do before I ordered, and everything fits perfectly! Highly recommend!

Mitsuyo Witkins

Great communication, very good quality products, and fast shipping. Especially, DANNO-YA brand hand-made zekkens are of amazing quality! Thanks Nathan!!