The Naginata

How can I get hold of one of these Naginata in Great Britain ?

This has now been asked so often on enquiry email, a page devoted to the key item to learning Naginata !!

Due to the extreme length, Japan Post and Japanese suppliers will not send it out from Japan because its size exceeds the normal limits of export items for personal use. If you manage to find a supplier in Japan (and your Japanese will have to be good !) the only way we have found possible, is by special courier service, namely only Ups or FedEx. Its size also means it is likely to come to the attention of British Customs, so not only do you have to contend with the courier cost (which will add on at least another 50-70% on top of the item itself) but UK customs "grab it", slap import tax on it and plus their own "handling fee" - life is low.

Only one genuine British supplier who imports quality items suitable for Naginata semi/full contact practice, www.ninecircles.co.uk It is a special request, because his Japanese suppliers, also told him how difficult and expensive it was to export them. Which leads me on to...

How did we get our Naginata ?

The best way, and cheapest, though that depends on your viewpoint (!) is asking us nicely, or buying them yourself from www.ninecirlces.co.uk or when someone goes to Japan personally, and brings them in as outsize luggage on a trip.

We have indeed managed to get them in via the above answer, but as a unit cost via courier service, expect to face a grand total of about £70 if being sent from Japan (depending on Ups charges, and customs, and even Nine Circles postage and packing). Frustratingly, the actual item in Japan, is about half this cost.

Therefore option a) ask us…because we can save you the postage, meaning the top quality we’re happy to supply you with, for about £40-45, depending on exchange rate. It does mean you being either a student at the London Club, or ensuring you come to the London club.

Please persevere – we will help you all we can, if you really are serious about purchasing one. You will have to wait, for one of us to make trips to Japan or rely on Rachel visiting in person, Nine Circles, when a big order goes through. As per above, without postage/packing having to be paid, due to the “hand pickup/delivery” (and dose of goodwill) the stick will approximate at £40-45 all in.

If individuals buy direct, regardless of supplier, you must check that the item is “complete”, that means 3 separate items, hopefully put together. The wooden shaft, the bamboo blade, and last but not least (but sometimes forgotten) the leather sakigawa on the end, called the e-bu !!! if you have this in bits, you need to put it together, suppliers should be supplying this weapon, “ready for use”. Or you need a lesson in putting this together, safely to use, pretty quick.

Buying & supplying priority naturally goes to continuously practicing London Naginata Club students.

Good news, the white oak part, should last a life time, what does need to be replaced with regular practice, is the bamboo blade attachment. Much easier to post, due to its small size, these are only about £7 each (about £9 with postage/packing). Any self-respecting British Naginata-ka should not be breaking these blades just yet... they break in sparring and natural ageing.