Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

Hi Friends,

I need a help on the translation/interpretation on kanji writing in my Gi, and also your opinion on using Gi with writings on it. I bought this kusakura Gi a month ago, which was a display item so the seller sold it to me with a cheaper price.

There is two kanji letter (picture at the bottom), and one of my friend said that the meaning is senboku (a district in Japan). I don't know is it correct or not, but even if it's correct i don't know why there's a district name on a Gi. If anybody had any idea or opinion, i'd be very thankful.

I would also like to ask your opinion regarding the ethics of using Gi with a writing on it (either kanji/roman letter). Is there any rules of tradition on this in Aikido? I haven't use this Gi because i don't want to break any possible ethics/tradition/informal rules.

Thank you for your help.

Btw, i am very new in this forum, and i'd like to thank all of you for sharing so many informations on this forum, i had learned so many useful things here.

Regards,
Abraham


(I am really sorry for this oversized picture, i haven't had time to resize it)

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

I think it says "Kick Me! :freaky:

Just kidding, I have no clue.

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

I would ask your Sensei if it would be alright to wear it. I know where I train (sometimes) Sensei perfers only the school and/or the federation patch on the gi. But his bottom line is if that the only gi you have then wear it. JUST GET THE MAT AND TRAIN!

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

Thanks for your response Mr Wong, luckily it is not the only Gi i own. I was just being careful wearing something with a word that i haven't understand yet.

Hahahaha :D :D i should move the letter on my butt then haha..

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

Translation from a googler, not a speaker:
泉 is Sen: spring, fountain
北 is Hoku: north
There are a bunch of Senhoku, Senboku, and Senpokus all over Japan

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

I have a dojo-mate who has his name embroidered on his gi in classic gas-station name letters: "Mike". It cracks me up every time I see it.

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

That's wonderful!
To match "my name in kanji" on the R hip of my hak, I wrote my name in Yiddish and had a friend embroider it on the L hip. I don't think anyone has ever noticed it :-)

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

It's pretty common in Japan for people to wear gi that have either their own name or the name of the club/dojo where they train. Since 泉北
is a place name it might also be the name of a dojo/club/or organization. I have also seen people wear gi and hakama that have the kanji for a name other than their own; probably bought 2nd hand I would assume.

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

I would read that as "Izumi Kita" Most likely it belonged to someone who lived in the north of a place called Izumi. A quick google search reveals that there is an Izumi Kita karate dojo in Osaka. I don't know why someone from there would wear a Judo-gi though.

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

The area of southern Osaka near the ocean is called Izumi chuo, with a place called senboku nearby. I've never seen anyone by that name though.

Re: Kanji in my Gi (need your help and opinion)
 

I would suggest that it is from a school, the Izumi being a district and the Kita being the school (e.g. Izumi Kita High School)
I would not be surprised if it is in fact a judogi from a school club.

My take: you might remove the emboidery with an un-picker (a lot of time), or put a patch over it. That, of course, is merely my opinion.

Hope this helps.