I can personally stronlgy recommend Kiyota weapons, as Jun says. I had, and cared for, a bokken from Kiyota Sensei for seven years. At $40 dollars a pop, you can't beat the deal.
I also like the advice to get less expensive gear now and wait for more expensive stuff. Just makes good common sense. I have been in Aikido for ten years and am just now going to buy Kingfisher Impact Grade Hickory. (Insert gleeful look of a kid at Christmas)
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