Seals

There are three types of seals:

Nintei-hin (認定品) – “Approved item” may be used for all competitions and level tests.  Goes through very rigorous testing including but not limited to size, paint durability, quality, etc.  (Common usage “Nintei seal”)

Suishō-hin (推奨品) – “Recommended item” color generally matches the Nintei seal of a given manufacturer example: Gentosha = red; Yamagata Koubou = yellow; Goes through the same rigorous testing as the Nintei seal kendama; may be used for testing up through Jun-shodan.  (Common usage “Suishō seal”)

Tokubetsu Suishō-hin (特別推奨品) – “Special Recommended item” colors and designs vary, may be used for testing up through Jun-shodan.  Does not go through the same rigorous testing as the Nintei seal kendama; generally given for works of art, very high priced kendama, or those of exclusive/limited release.  Has the seal but is not often something that is used/played.  For the Nintei/Suishō different colors usually mean different manufacturers but that is not always with the Tokubetsu Suishō style of seal.  Another example of this

seal is the 40th Anniversary seal released in 2015. (Common usage “Tokubetsu Suishō seal”)


Official Seals

Example:
Ozora ( model name )
Yamagata Koubou ( company name(s) )
Nintei ( certification level )
2008 ( year started )

F16

Mingei Kōeki & Keiyaku Shūryō & Sunray
“Kyōgi-yō” (competition)

1978

Fuji

Hakushinsya
“Nintei”

1980

Sakura

Milkyway
“Nintei”

1984

Fuji & Sakura

Hakushinsya & Milkyway
“Nintei”

1992

Shinfuji

Hakushinsya
“Nintei”

2001

Shinsakura

Milkyway (name change to Art Yoshi 2003)
“Nintei”

2001

TK16 Master

Tamiwa Toy
“Nintei”

2001

Mugen

Iwata Mokkō
“Nintei”

2005

TK16 Junior

Tamiwa Toy
“Suishō”

2007

Ozora

Yamagata Koubou
“Nintei”

2008

Rokuro, Soft Touch

Hakushinsya
“Suishō”

2010

Taiyo

Yamagata Koubou
“Suishō”

2011

Hajimete no Kendama

Gentosha
“Suishō”

2014

40th Anniversary

All Companies
“Tokubetsu Suishō”

2015

Unspecified

All Companies
“Tokubetsu Suishō”

2015.5

Standard

Gentosha
“Suishō”

2016

Unspecified

All Companies
“Tokubetsu Suishō”

2016.12

Pro Racing

Yumu
“Suishō”

2017

Meijin Kiwami

Kashimaya
“Nintei”

2017 (early)

Ozora

Yamagata Koubou
“Nintei” holo

2017

Reshape, etc.

Yamagata Koubou
“Suishō” holo

2017

Stars

Gentosha
“Nintei” holo

2017

Unspecified

Gentosha
“Suishō” holo

2017

Meijin Takumi

Kashimaya
“Nintei” holo

2017

Kodama

Ikeda Kōgyōsha
“Nintei” holo

2017

Pro Racing

Yumu
“Nintei” holo

2017

Unspecified

Yumu
“Suishō” holo

2017

Here is a comparison of two seals that are sometimes confused.  The Mugen is on the left and the Meijin Kiwami is on the right.