CNC machined grade 5 titanium dice with beautifully engraved kanji on each face. Anodized and stone washed for a weathered and aged appearance similar to those of traditional Japanese aesthetics.
Japanese kanji is beautiful. I've been trying to learn the language so that when I travel back to Japan I can speak and enjoy what the country has to offer a bit more as well as get in tune with my culture better. That and because I blend in, the natives almost look a bit disappointed when I can barely speak and I hate that. I can't go saying "eigo ga hanashimasuka" (are you able to speak english?) for much longer. With any Japanese kanji lesson app or book one of the first to learn is the number 1. Followed by 2, 3 and then it gets increasingly challenging non linearly from there on. So by the end of this project it's safe to say, I will recognize numbers 1-6 in Japanese as fast as the Arabic 1-6. I hope you will too after using these dice.
I also make dice. Some of you have asked for kanji dice and it's something I have wanted to make for a while now, but in an artistic way. I think the machined tool lines paired with the durability of titanium and the nice weathered aged stone washed finish similar to the stones of a Japanese rock garden make this the nearly perfect way to express the numbers on dice. The only more perfect way in typical Japanese fashion would be no color (a lot of temples follow this philosophy of natural aging), but I personally think that is less fun an vibrant. For those who would like a pure stone washed version, I can do that.
I am currently offering 3 colors in this project. There are 2 other finishes that I can easily offer, plain stone washed and blasted. But I'll start with these since these seem to be the nicest in my opinion.
This is personally my favorite. The deep blue just looks amazing with the contrasting satin/weathered faces. It's one of those things that looks so satisfying to hold and stare at.
Bronze Titanium Dice
This is the first time I am offering this color and it's a color I've wanted to offer for a while. It's also one of the easiest colors to anodize operating at a lower voltage. For those that like that more natural aged appearance, this is a nice color for that.
November 2025: Finally make a handful of prototypes. I've developed a new machining process to make D6 dice that takes a lot less hand sanding (my fingers thank me). Ultimately, the dice also come out a lot nicer.
December 2025: Start making the Backerkit project (photography, etc).
January 2026: Launch the Backerkit project. Order material (it comes from California). Begin machining.
February 2026: Continue machining. If more than 50 pairs are ordered I'll break up production into 2 batches. This helps me machine one batch completely and find any potential mistakes. Start the finishing process. Some may ship out at the end of February.
March 2026: I anticipate full fulfillment by this month if less than 100 pairs are ordered. If we have way more than 100 pairs, which I do not anticipate, then machining and finishing will spill into this month.
