From the The Regulations of Kendo Shiai and Shinpan, effective 7 December 2006, published by The International Kendo Federation (FIK). Reviewed and/or altered 1 July 2009.
| Table A. Specifications for use of one Shinai (Itto). Shinais are weighed complete, but without tsuba or tsuba dome. Maximum diameter of tsuba – 9cm. |
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| Specification | Gender | Junior High School (12-15 yrs) | Senior High School (15-18 yrs) | University students and Adults (18yrs and over) |
| Maximum length | Male & female | 114cm | 117cm | 120cm |
| Minimum weight | Male | 440g | 480g | 510g |
| Female | 400g | 420g | 440g | |
| Minimum diameter of sakigawa | Male | 25mm | 26mm | 26mm |
| Female | 24mm | 25mm | 25mm | |
| Minimum length of sakigawa | Male & female | 50mm | 50mm | 50mm |
| Suggested size | Male | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| Female | 38 | |||
| Table B. Specifications for use of two Shinai (Nito). Shinais are weighed complete, but without tsuba or tsuba dome. Maximum diameter of tsuba – 9cm. |
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| Specification | Gender | Daito (long shinai) | Shoto (short shinai) | |
| Maximum length | Male & female | 114cm | 62cm | |
| Minimum weight | Male | 440g | 280-300g | |
| Female | 400g | 250-280g | ||
| Minimum diameter of sakigawa | Male | 25mm | 24mm | |
| Female | 24mm | 24mm | ||
| Suggested size | 36 or 37 | |||
Shinai shall be made of bamboo, or of synthetic material as a substitute of bamboo approved by ALL JAPAN KENDO FEDERATION. The structure, length, weight, diameter of Shinai and specification of Tsuba are stipulated in the Subsidiary Rules.
Shinai shall consist of four slats and shall not include therein other objects than the core inside Sakigawa and Chigiri inlaid at the end of Tsuka.
The specifications of Shinai are indicated in Table A and B; the length indicated therein refers to the total length of Shinai inclusive of its accessories, and the weight to the total weight thereof inclusive of its accessories other than Tsuba. The diameter of Shinai shall refer to the minimum diameter of the tip of Sakigawa.
Tsuba shall be round in shape and he made of leather or synthetic material; it shall be 9 centimeters or smaller in diameter and shall be fixed onto Shinai.
