Kyusakura

What Kyusakura does

Kyusakura Co., Ltd. (株式会社九櫻) is a privately held Japanese manufacturer of martial arts equipment, headquartered in Kashiwara City, Osaka, with branches in Tokyo (including the KUSAKURA World Shop showroom near Kodokan) and Tosu City (Saga), plus a textile division. The company traces its origins to a 1918 Jukendo clothing workshop and was formally incorporated on April 19, 1939 as Hayakawa Budogu Co., Ltd.; it was renamed KUSAKURA Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2018 in conjunction with its 100th anniversary. It employs approximately 94 staff and produces a full portfolio across eleven disciplines — judo, karate/kenpo, kendo, iaido, naginata, aikido, jukendo, kyudo, sumo, taihojutsu, and sashiko — anchored by IJF Red Label-certified judogi (JOV/JNV/JOF/JNF/JOEX/JNEX lines), training judogi (JZ Senpo), IJF-certified belts, multi-layer judo tatami, and sumo facility equipment. Two sub-brands sit alongside the core business: KUSAKURA SASHIKO (traditional Japanese heavy-stitch textile products via a dedicated e-commerce site) and XAGLASS (athletic apparel, launched 2018).

The company's core technical asset is vertically integrated in-house manufacturing that controls every stage from yarn procurement, weaving, and dyeing through cutting, sewing, inspection, and embroidery. This supports proprietary fabric technology (the NaiJuGaigo weave balancing durability on the outside with softness inside) and compliance with IJF mechanical specifications such as 2,200+ Newton tensile strength and 650–750 g/m² fabric weight. Regulatory credentials include IJF Red Label certification (covering judogi and belts usable at Olympic Games and World Championships) and All Japan Judo Federation accreditation as an authorized dealer.

Kyusakura generates revenue through unit-priced hardware sales across three pricing tiers — IJF premium competition judogi (¥13,750–¥26,400 per set), training/general-use judogi (¥8,360–¥26,400), and value-added services such as name embroidery at ¥440–¥660 per character — sold via Japanese sports retailers and martial arts specialty stores, direct B2B to middle and high schools for physical-education curriculum, the Tokyo flagship showroom, and export distributors serving Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America. Additional revenue comes from judo tatami installations (¥6,655–¥399,300 modules), facility equipment, accessories, and adjacent sub-brand sales (sashiko and XAGLASS). The company engages customers through annual SPORTEC trade-show presence, on-site sales booths at domestic judo competitions, a multilingual website (Japanese, English, French), and corporate partnerships such as the February 2026 agreement with Nankatsu SC for XAGLASS XEBAR SUIT products.

Name

Kyusakura

Legal name

Kusakura Co., Ltd. (株式会社九櫻)

Website

https://kusakura.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kyusakura Co., Ltd. (株式会社九櫻) is a privately held Japanese manufacturer founded in 1918 that produces IJF Red Label-certified judo uniforms, training judogi, belts, tatami mats, and equipment for eleven martial arts disciplines. It sells primarily through Japanese sports retailers, direct B2B to educational institutions, a Tokyo flagship showroom, and exports to Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Textile Mills (313), Broadwoven Fabric Mills (313210)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Competition & Tournament Team Training (HSADADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG), Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

Keywords

• Judo uniforms
• Judogi manufacturing
• Tatami mats
• Martial arts equipment
• Karate gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Kashiwara

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Martial Arts Equipment Sales: Sale of martial arts equipment including judo uniforms (judogi), belts, tatami mats, protective gear, and accessories. Products sold through retail channels and direct B2B to educational institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kyusakura manufactures and sells judo uniforms (judogi), judo belts, tatami mats, and related equipment for multiple martial arts disciplines under the KUSAKURA brand. The company operates a fully integrated in-house production process spanning yarn development through finished goods, with IJF-certified competition-grade judogi as a flagship product line. It also supplies custom-sized and embroidered uniforms, sumo-related equipment, and lifestyle apparel.

Product overview

Kyusakura (株式会社九櫻) is a 100-year-old Japanese martial arts equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on judo uniforms (judogi). The product line consists of IJF-certified judogi for competitive athletes (JOV, JNV, JOF, JNF, JOEX, JNEX) featuring the brand's proprietary 'NaiJuGaigo' fabric technology, training judogi (JZ Senpo), and judo-related accessories including belts, protective gear, and embroidery services. Beyond judo, Kyusakura manufactures equipment for ten other martial arts disciplines (karate, kendo, iaido, naginata, aikido, jukendo, kyudo, sumo, taihojutsu, and sashiko) plus facility supplies like tatami mats. The company operates in-house manufacturing from yarn to finished product, ensuring quality control across the entire production chain. Two sub-brands operate independently: 九櫻刺子 (sashiko products) and XAGLASS (performance athletic wear).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 九櫻刺子 (KUSAKURA SASHIKO): Traditional sashiko-stitched products including clothing and accessories, utilizing Japanese artisanal textile techniques.
• XAGLASS

Products and services

• IJF-certified Competition Judogi (JO series)

Quantifiable outcome

• Tensile strength of 2,200+ Newtons for IJF-certified judogi
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nankatsu SCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 February 2026Partnership with the soccer team Nankatsu SC, famous from the manga 'Captain Tsubasa'. Kyusakura's XAGLASS brand XEBAR SUIT products have been adopted by the team.
• International Judo Federation (IJF)coreOthersIJF provides official certification (Red Label) for Kyusakura's judo uniforms, enabling use at Olympic Games and international competitions. Kyusakura is an official IJF supplier.
• All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF)coreOthersAJJF certifies Kyusakura products as official equipment for All Japan Judo competitions and provides accreditation as an official dealer in Japan.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tiger Claw: US martial arts equipment brand primarily serving karate and taekwondo practitioners. Comparable to KUSAKURA as an adjacent Asian-martial-arts equipment maker, though more focused on karate/TKD than judo.
• Green Hill: UK-based martial arts equipment supplier with a broad catalog spanning judo, karate, and other disciplines. Comparable as a competitor in international judogi distribution but with a broader, less judo-specialized portfolio than KUSAKURA.
• Century Martial Arts: US-based martial arts equipment distributor with a broad catalog covering karate, judo, taekwondo, and BJJ. Comparable to KUSAKURA as a multi-discipline martial arts supplier but with a wider portfolio and US distribution focus.
• Hayabusa: Larger combat sports brand with MMA, boxing, and judo product lines. Overlaps with KUSAKURA in judo equipment but is primarily consumer-facing in MMA/BJJ; comparable as a judo product competitor with greater mainstream brand recognition.

Direct peers

• Daedo: Spanish-based judo equipment manufacturer and IJF official supplier producing judogi, belts, and tatami. Comparable to KUSAKURA in product scope, IJF certification, and target customer (international judo federations and clubs).
• Mizuno: Japanese global sporting goods manufacturer with a dedicated judo line and IJF-certified judogi. Directly competes with KUSAKURA in the premium Japanese-made judogi category and Olympic supplier pool.
• Ippon Gear: French judo equipment brand specializing in judogi for training and competition. Comparable as a niche judo-focused manufacturer competing for European and international federation contracts against KUSAKURA.
• Kwon: Korean martial arts equipment manufacturer producing judogi, karate gi, and taekwondo doboks. Comparable to KUSAKURA in product category breadth across Asian martial arts and B2B sales to federations and schools.
• Fuji Sports: Japanese-origin judo and martial arts equipment manufacturer with judogi and accessories. Directly comparable to KUSAKURA in judo specialization, Japan-based manufacturing heritage, and international distribution.
• Adidas (Combat Sports / Judo division): Adidas is a major IJF judo apparel partner and supplier of judogi used at international competitions. Competes head-to-head with KUSAKURA for national federation contracts and global premium judo brand positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kyusakura