TL;DR:
Our team in Japan takes their annual summer break from August 8–16, 2026. Last shipping day is Friday, August 7. Any order placed between August 8 and August 16 goes into the queue and starts processing on Monday, August 17, in the order it was received. Order now if you want your gear moving before the break.
Summer Break in Japan: Plan Your Orders Now
Every August, our partners in Japan step away from the workshop for a week and a half of rest — time with family, time to recharge, time away from the bench before they're back stitching belts and gis at full quality. It's a tradition we've supported since we became Isami and Reversal's official international partner in 2006, and it hasn't changed in twenty years.
Key Dates
- Last Shipping Day: Friday, August 7
- Summer Break: August 8–16
- Back to Work: Monday, August 17
Our site stays open 24/7 through the break, and support is still around to answer product questions. What changes is production and shipping — both pause completely in Japan during this window.
What This Means for Your Order
This year, every order placed during the break — in-stock or made-to-order — holds until the team is back. Orders placed between August 8 and August 16 start processing on August 17, in the order they were received. First in, first out. There's no way to jump the queue once the break starts, so the only lever you have is ordering early.
If you're eyeing a custom belt with embroidery, a new BJJ gi, or a karate gi for the next tournament cycle, get it in before August 7. Anything ordered after that date is fine — it just won't move until the 17th.
Why We Protect This Tradition
The people who make your gear aren't a factory line — they're artisans who've spent decades learning how a gi should hang, how a belt should hold its stitch after years of mat time. A real break keeps them sharp and keeps the quality where it needs to be. It's a small trade-off on delivery time for gear that's still worth the wait.
Beat the Break
Don't let your belt, gi, or gloves sit in a queue behind two weeks of orders. Place your order before Friday, August 7 to ship on schedule — or place it anytime during the break knowing it'll process first-come, first-served starting August 17.
Thank you for backing authentic Japanese craftsmanship. It's the reason the gear holds up, tournament after tournament.
Order before August 7 to avoid the queue.
