Nittaku Airuline 8.8

This is the second Japanese penhold (Jpen) blade I’ve owned. I also had the Nittaku Excelity, which was good, but I wanted to try a 1-ply hinoki blade.

1-ply blades live up to their reputation. The sense of feel and control you get with them is incredible.

This blade is a driving/speed blade. You can loop with it, but given its stiffness, I’d recommend a flexible Cpen if you’re primarily looking to loop. If you’re looking for great touch, unbelievable blocks, power, and speed, this blade is an excellent choice.

My game with this blade resembles the classical Jpen short pips type of attack that was popular in the 1980s.

It does have a relatively narrow, elongated head, not as wide or rounded as my Excelity. This suggests that this blade is designed for driving rather than looping.

For the price, this is a great deal if you’re looking for a budget 1-ply hinoki blade. I’m very happy with it.