Haechi

My son, Taichi was the first sponsored Kenshi for Team Hokubei and the first to be presented a Haechi Set. Not only does he look sleek in it, he has declared that it's his Bogu now and would not go into competition with anything else. Not to mention that on 4/11/2026, the Haechi Bogu was worn on Taichi's run to the Junior Nationals Boys 16~18 Championship. Many of my Dojo members own one as well. It is the all encompassing Bogu that the Kendo community has been waiting for. Comfort and protection for everyday practice and function for the most important and crucial times. Thank you Hokubei for bringing this product to the North American Kendo community,

I ordered this bogu through a direct consultation with Back-Sensei, who was incredibly helpful in shaping my expectations and guiding me through the process of selecting my second bogu set. Having someone with his experience walk you through the details makes a big difference, especially when you already know what you like and what you dislike from your first set.

By the end of the consultation I was convinced the Haechi was the right choice. I also asked if the menbuchi could be painted completely black. Yong kindly accommodated the request and had the set ready for me at the Detroit Taikai.

When he handed it to me, it had just come out of the paint shop. I had to wait four weeks before wearing it so the finish could fully cure. Those were probably the longest four weeks of my life, but it was absolutely worth it.

The bogu is extremely comfortable and clearly very well made. Buying a second set is a different experience because you already understand what matters to you in terms of fit, flexibility, and feel. The Haechi delivered on all of that.

In summary, the service was outstanding, the delivery was personalized, and the bogu itself is excellent. What more could you ask for?

A very good beginner set! Due to international shipping delays, the package arrived a few months later than expected, but Yong was always warm, responsive, and patient in answering all of my questions. My sensei commented that for a beginner set, the kote are very decent in quality. I also believe the men has strong impact protection, when others struck me, I didn’t feel any pain at all.

My only suggestions would be that some areas of the lacquered parts of the men felt slightly rough, so I carefully smoothed them with fine sandpaper, and the trimming around the label was a bit unfinished. However, overall I think this set offers great value for the price. If you are a beginner looking for something a step above a basic entry-level set, I would recommend Hokubei. They truly love and understand kendo.

I could not be happier with my purchase from Back-Sensei!!! He went above and beyond in communication and quality, and was very knowledgeable and helpful, especially since this was my very first time ever wearing and purchasing bogu.

As a woman, I've heard that it can be difficult to find fits that are both protective and comfortable, since a lot of standard sizing is often oriented towards men. But Back-sensei took the time to carefully take and review my measurements (I was lucky enough to be measured in person :D), answer all of my questions, and make great recommendations to better customize the set and ensure that I would be happy with my purchase.

When my bogu arrived, it was very clear to me that a lot of thought and care had been put into the craftsmanship and detail. Everything fits very comfortably and securely, and was very quick to adjust to my body. The built-in extra protection on the right kote has saved me from bruises numerous times, and the entire set is incredibly light and easy to wear. As a beginner kendoka, I was really worried that wearing bogu in general would feel overwhelming or restrictive, but this bogu set honestly feels very natural and has kept me very safe during practice. I've been wearing this set for about a year now, and am just as happy with it as when it first arrived.

I'm very thankful for the time, expertise, and care that went into the craftsmanship of this bogu, and I'm especially grateful to Back-Sensei for helping make getting my first bogu set so easy and enjoyable. I wholeheartedly recommend this particular set for anyone looking for high-quality bogu, and I equally recommend purchasing from Hokubei Budogu. Their exceptional customer service and genuine care are unmatched, and I would absolutely purchase from them again. :)

couldn’t be happier with this bogu set. The craftsmanship is top-notch—everything from the stitching to the padding feels solid and built to last. The men offers great protection while still giving me a clear field of vision. The tare and do provide excellent coverage without feeling bulky, and the overall balance of the set makes movement fluid and natural.