The purpose of smoked shinai is to keep the moisture within the body of the shinai, so it is less susceptible to low humidity countries. Unlike Japan where it's near a large body of water central parts of Europe and Canada's winter is very dry clans can cause cracking in your shinai. The smoked shinai you still need to maintain but less frequently.
Kendo-Guide.Com: Thank you for your input!!
Mar 27, 2017 Rating
In Reply to Yin by: Kendo-Guide.Com
You're welcome! Sorry that I didn't have a good answer. I didn't want to misguide you. Hope someone gives you a good answer!