Craft-based classification of Do - Dodai

5 basic types of Dodai classified by material

Among the four parts of Kendo Bogu, the Do is often the most overlooked. Generally, a properly sized Do can meet the requirements for various situations, including daily practice, grading and competitions. However, for those practitioners who emphasize the aesthetic aspect of their Bogu, selecting a premium Do has become the most challenging step. This is because the kendo market outside Japan generally lacks comprehensive information and promotion regarding do craftsmanship. Below, I will provide a brief overview of the types of Dodai.

Fig.1 Back view of bamboo Dodai (left) and Yamato Dodai (right)

Based on different primary materials and designs, Dodai can be categorized into the following five types:

1. Plastic Do (also called synthetic Do/reinforced plastic Do/high-impact Do): Most plastic Do are made by one-piece compression molding, presenting a smooth back surface. Some models mimic the structure of real bamboo Do with 50/60/64 pieces on the back. Lightweight, sturdy, and cost-effective, plastic Do is popular among beginners and in large clubs. They are mainly manufactured in South Korea and Japan.

2. Yamato Do: The iconic feature of this type of Do is the sheet design like the real bamboo Do and the more restored curvature of the Dodai. In comparison to plastic Do with same appearance (though the main material of the Yamato Do is still plastic, the craftsmanship is quite different),  Yamato Do exhibit superior toughness. . Differentiating between these two types on the market is often based on price and Dodai texture options, with Yamato Do primarily produced and sold in Japan..

3. Vulcanized fibre Do: Commonly grouped with carbon fiber Do in overseas markets, it is sometimes referred to as fiber Do. Vulcanized fiber Do was originally launched by Hokuetsu Toyo Fibre. As it is made by plastic and paper, it is also called paper fibre Do. The main features of this type of Do are that it is very lightweight, has relatively poor buffering effect, and can provide relatively limited options of Dodai texture. At present, this type of Do has basically been discontinued.

4. Carbon fibre Do: This is a novel Do crafted by combining a layer of plastic Do with a surface featuring various textures It is mainly produced in South Korea. It preserves the lightweight characteristics of fibre Do while offering more Dodai options, including one-piece transparent Dodai. Compared with regular plastic Do, carbon fibre Do are more expensive but do not addressing issues of low durability and impact resistance, which makes it a niche product.

5. Bamboo Do: The traditional bamboo Do represents the most complicated category, exhibiting significant variations in detail based on manufacturing craftsmanship and location of production (in contrast, plastic Do usually use public molds, so the consistency of products can be relatively high). Briefly speaking, the bamboo Do is composed of scattered bamboo pieces and then covered with surfaces of different materials and textures. Recognized for their excellent protection and durability, bamboo Do also command the highest cost among all Dodai types.

Different coating craftsmanship of Dodai

As for how the surface of the bamboo Do show different colors, patterns and textures, here we will take coating (also called painting)--the core process in bamboo Do manufacturing— as an example. In fact, all synthetic Do designs are based on the imitation of bamboo Do, so once you understand the manufacturing techniques of bamboo Do, you can roughly understand how synthetic Do achieve the similar effects. Bamboo Do coating types include but are not limited to:

1. Tamenuri: Apply transparent paint on the red middle layer to create a glossy red-black color. In the production of plastic Do, a cost-effective machine paint is used, along with multi-layer plastic sealing to enhance the coating's solidity.

Fig.2 Roiro bamboo Dodai made by Johoji-nuri

2. Black Roiro/Roiro: Black that is much darker than average. The hand-painted Roiro Do presents a distinctive moist appearance, a key feature that distinguishes it from the black color shown on the plastic Do.

3. Mushikui: Made by layering lacquer of different colors and polishing them to create patterns that look like the Dodai has been eaten by insects. This traditional Japanese craft is rarely seen on synthetic Do.

4. Gyoun: Layer different colors on the painted surface to create an uneven pattern that resembles clouds.

Fig.3 Red Kanshitsu-nuri bamboo Do with synthetic Kurozan Mune

5. Kanshitsu/Ishime: Texture the surface achieved by applying lacquer to linen or traditional paper, or by rubbing wood powder into the lacquer. Kanshitsu/Ishime can achieve textures of different brush strokes by controlling the details of the process.

Fig.4 Aogai-nuri bamboo Dodai made by Johoji-nuri

6. Aogai: The paint is inlaid with decorative shell fragments, creating an effect that looks like cosmetic glitter scattered on a black background. The Galaxy coating used on the plastic Do has a similar appreance.

7. Nashiji: The surface is sprinkled with gold, silver or other satin powder, coated with transparent paint, and then polished. It is characterized by a pear-like texture on the surface.

8. Fuki urushi: Transparent raw lacquer is applied directly to the leather surface of Kiji Do to highlight the underlying pattern. It can be regarded as an extended process of Kiji Do.

Fig.5 Orange Kiji bamboo Do with clarino Mune

9. Kiji: Strictly speaking, Kiji Do is not a coating process buta classification where cow leather is covered on a bamboo Dodai and polished, leaving it directly exposed to highlight the leather texture. Kiji Do is classified separately here for clarity. In addition, leathers made from other animals, such as mackerel skins, also generally fall into this category.

10. Others: There are also some special Dodai, such as wooden textures model (usually for display only) , not included in any of the above categories.

In contrast to the well-established mass production processes of the plastic Do, the surface texture of bamboo Do heavily relies on the chosen raw materials used (such as the origin of the lacquer and the quality of the cow leather) and the technical level of the craftsmen. For example, the famous Johouji painting in Japan is a traditional lacquer painting technique originating from Johouji Town, Iwate. It is usually used to manufacture high-end crafts or cultural relics. After this technology becomes popularized, it is now also widely used in the production of premium bamboo Dodai, and provides quite a wealth of options at different price domain.

Today, the manufacture technique of Dodai has shown various developmental trends.Thanks to the improvement of the production technologies, the plastic Do designs provided by major manufacturers are becoming more and more unimaginable, and their prices have basically stabilized in a relatively affordable range. Besides, the craftsmanship of the bamboo Do has a tendency of simplification and targeted development.. Due to the ‘cheap’ and ‘sports-oriented’ demand from Japanese consumers for kendo bogu, the expensive and time-consuming bamboo Do are gradually moving away from the mainstream, and the remaining workshops dedicated to bamboo Do production focus on optimizing the process, resulting in the new generation of bamboo Do being less  bulky and easier to maintain compared to their predecessors.

Cases of Dodai selection for reference

Here are some examples and suggestions for choosing a Dodai: (retail prices for reference only)

Fig.6 Black basic plastic Do with Orizashi Mune

1. For general kendo practitioners, plastic Do/Yamato Do is always an reliable choice. In the UK, you can purchase a finished plastic Do at a cost of 100-200 pounds (including a certain degree of flexibility in Dodai selection, and synthetic kurozan or orizashi mune). This type of Do is suitable for various occasion such as practice, grading and competition. Apart from the classic black Dodai will gradually wear out with use, there is not much to complain about.

Fig.7 Black Ishime Yamato Do with clarino Mune

2. Most colored Dodai are produced in South Korea, offering affordability and reliability. In contrast, some special Dodai can only be acquired in Japan, leading to higher cost and longer construction duration, with limited size availability for certain models.

3. At present, it is not recommended for anyone to choose the expensive fibre Do. Whether in South Korea or Japan, the price of fibre Do are currently high (in the UK, most finished fibre Do may reach 300-400 pounds). Due to its characteristics of low durability and poor buffering, fibre Do is only suitable for high-level competitions. Some companies in South Korea and China are now developing new, low-priced fibre Do, but the market availability remains unclear.

4. For those seeking a beautiful, durable and excellent cushioning Do, the bamboo Do is the best option. At present, the price of bamboo Do is not as high as it used to be, and with advancements in manufacture techniques, the retention of bamboo Dodai is better than that of most plastic Do. Usually, purchasing a basic bamboo Do (such as black bamboo Do/Kiji Do) from European retailors costs 800 pounds or more, while ordering a similar bamboo Dodai directly from a Japanese factory or workshop only costs around 250 pounds. This provides ample flexibility in choosing a custom Mune (finished product from £400).