About buying a Same (shark/ray skin) Doh:

Each Same Doh is significantly different, therefore Same Doh should be examined prior to purchase and building.

We normally bring in several Same Doh for customers to inspect.
In case of overseas orders, we take color-correct photos, including overall and close up details, prior to deciding on the Doh to be used.

Same Doh should be inspected when finished, not before the dye and lacquer coat are applied.
Each Same-skin varies in properties

We recommend only treated surface Same Doh (lacquer finished) !!!

The reasons are:

Raw Same is water permiable,
that is both wet things and humidity will penetrate and affect it.

Therefore, skin oils from handling, rub-off from one's own bogu and others,
particularly the Aizome indigo dye, will stick to, and eventually penetrate down into the substance of the Same.

As well as moisture going inwards, the same will dry out and become brittle.
A coated surface will serve to preserve the Same layer.

Raw Same is abrasive. It will scratch (tear-up) shinai, the inside of one's own Kote, the inside of one's own sleeve, and upon collisions, scratch opponent's lacquered doh-dai.

Size of the Doh:

Both height and width should be fitted to the wearer. In addition, the Mune can/should be fitted as well.
We often custom order Doh-dai and Mune in which both width and height measurements are custom-fitted to a particular customer.

About prices:

Prices will vary from case to case, but in general, a Same Doh-dai will range from JPY 200,000 to 500,000.
Mune and building-up fees are separate.

The best mune made in Japan is the Senkou Mune.
Depending on design, they start at JPY 140,000, and go up to about 220,000.

A hand-rubbed finish Kurozan Mune is around JPY 68,000.

Building fee is JPY 25,000, done inside our shop, using the best, thickest Kurozan Heri-kawa.