You’ll solve Jamie’s issue, which I agree on, by doing this design:
But with the minor fixes you have been making. For the saofuki it will just be rotated 90 degrees from what you have now. That will look good folded as well, if you align it so that the mon is towards the right edge.
It will also look much more legit on the back of a tshirt that way.
Okay, here we are!
#1: Text runs between the top and bottom of the mon circle, per Jamie’s idea.
#2: The English text is inside the invisible horizontal lines of the mon circle.
#3: Per Karl’s suggestion.
I’m between #1/#2 (sorry Karl 
). #3 looks nice, but frankly, is the same positioning as the T shirt and, well, everything else. I think it might be more appealing to just make it slightly different, even if that means just putting the mon on the side.
I’m only speaking for myself, of course. When I think of myself buying two products (shirt/saofuki) with the same design/positioning, I’d only consider getting one. If they’re slightly different, I’d be much more inclined to buy both.
Number 1! Number !1
Yeah, looking at it again, I do like #1 the most. Okay, I’m sold!
Karl? 
#1 or #3 I would say but this is really arguing about things at a high level (not sure if this is the expression in english) yeah maybe #1 slightly over #3 or whatever 
I think number 3 without a doubt. I can’t relate to your argument about having different ones for different merch because I’ll be hanging on to my bachido ISS tshirts I bought
Bh: Haha! I know what you mean.
Karl: It seems we have reached an impasse. It looks like we’ll have to bring in the final judges.
The Nitta family
Hey guys! I’m back from a 1 week trip.
A lot of a things happened I see…
But,WOOT Kyle,are you serious? Your Gonna take this topic to the Nitta Family? This Is unbelievably awesome!!!
I vote for number 1!
I doubt it matters at this point, but I do think three looks the best.
Also, I don’t know if anyone has seen this page but: http://www.komuso.com/people/people.pl?person=958
Awwww yeeaaaah, a supporter of #3 I bet the Nittas have acquired the same exquisite taste as Anthony and I.
I think that link might have occurred in some discussions. In Sweden there is actually a player who went and lived in Japan and received a title/name “Jinmei” as a proof of being a master. I emailed him a bit when I was new to the shamisen. They have some gatherings and concerts I believe. When this site goes Hogaku I’m sure we will want to hook up that whole community to Bachido, for those who are willing.
Hey, they’re all cool. I would like to see one with the Bachido logo superimposed over the mon though, just to make you have to do another one! Haha! But seriously, I know it doesn’t matter, but I actually like #2 the best. It seems the most balanced. The mon seems a little large on #'s 1 and 3, and #3, starting in the top left hand corner, doesn’t seem very, I don’t know… “Japanese”?
Alrighty! We got a final verdict!
僕も横長いほうが好きです
(I also like the landscape orientation)
なんだか
(in someway)
横に広がる 横に仲間が増えて行くって感じがします
(spreading sideways, it gives the feeling of increasing companions to the side)
I’m not exactly sure what he means at the end (though perhaps Kyoko or Jamie could explain?), but if he likes the landscape as well, I won’t argue!
You’re thinking too literally, man! It’s more like “The way it spreads out to the side, it’s like you’ll have more and more friends by your side, too.”
Mind blown
Totally did not see that. Aside from vocabulary deficiency, that’s the main time I have real communication trouble in Japanese - thinking about it too literally.
Of course, even though I now understand it after your explanation, I still don’t really get it.
Okay everyone! Nitta san’s next assignment for the Saofuki is choosing the color! (Oh boy, talk about trying to come to a consensus
Decide here! -