<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div><img alt="" media_type="null" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ww-W3kb38Qo/0.jpg" width="100%" />
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Greetings, I'm Kyle Abbott, founder of Bachido.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>For 15 years my partner Nitta san and I have been striving to provide the world with accessibility to shamisen — from educational resources to high quality instruments and accessories direct from Japan.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>We're on the verge of releasing revolutionary new materials, but we're stuck with the poor timing of due loans and low sales to support them. Unless we can raise $30,000, next month I won't be able to cover our engineering partner's expenses, and he'll be forced to leave Japan — taking two years of development with him, weeks before it was ready for the public.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The full story is below, and in the video above.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How we got here</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Bachido has been an entirely homegrown operation, and we've learned a lot along the way. I'm quite lucky to be living at home with my loving parents, and that's provided the supportive environment to figure out how to build Bachido so it's focused on the learner, while still being profitable enough that I could invest in new opportunities for Bachido, and sometimes even healthcare as well.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>One of those opportunities came two years ago, and it was bringing a new member onto the team, Jonathan Magoga. He's a member from the Bachido community who has a natural talent for engineering, and particularly advanced materials.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>After some communication, I knew he had skills which neither Nitta san nor I have, and I had a gut feeling that he alone could be the one to revolutionize synthetic alternatives to natural materials, finally making them comparable to each other, and perhaps in the future identical.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>At the time, Jonny was living in Japan on a work visa. In order to keep him in Japan to develop these new materials full time, he would need to form his own company, change his visa to be employed by his own company, acquire lodgings in Sapporo, and invest in pricey machines.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Realizing how monumental this opportunity was, I decided to put the entirety of Bachido's savings — 15 years worth, which is also my savings — into setting Jonny up with his company in Japan. That not only used the entirety of my savings, but a sizable bank loan as well.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The good news</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>He's fully set up with his company, and after two years of trial and error, he's almost ready to release these new materials.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A synthetic bachi which closely replicates bekko's flexibility should be available in a few weeks. The new version of Hibiki, which is 90 to 95% identical to natural skin, in a few months.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>The bad news</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>With his visa, Jonny isn't allowed to earn money outside of his business — and up until now his business has only been focused on research and development. So his rent, utilities, living expenses, and the bank loans I took out on his behalf are all covered by Bachido sales.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>As big as Bachido appears, it's a really small company, and I make about minimum wage on sales. It's thanks to living at home that this income has been enough to keep putting full time effort into it. But now that minimum wage income is split between two households, with monthly utilities and bank loans to pay, and we've barely made enough to break even.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This would be doable if sales were strong, but as timing would have it, due to tariffs and economic concern, sales have suddenly tanked in the past months. Unless we get cash immediately, next month I won't be able to cover his payments, and he'll be forced to leave Japan. His company closes, the machines go, and the fruits from the investment from 15 years of Bachido building disappear just before they were ready for the public.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Where the $30,000 goes</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Due immediately:</strong>
</div>
<div>$10,000 — a debt owed to TaikoVentures, the taiko organization who has helped us enormously.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Monthly operating costs:</strong>
</div>
<div>$1,000 — rent and utilities in Sapporo
</div>
<div>$2,400 — Jonny's working expenses (materials, groceries, transportation)
</div>
<div>$800 — US bank loan payment
</div>
<div>$600 — Jonny's business loan payment in Japan
</div>
<div>$4,800 total per month
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>$10,000 plus four months at $4,800 comes to $29,200. The remainder covers GoFundMe's processing fees.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>That's four months of runway.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>What I'm not asking for</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I still owe $24,000 on the US bank loan I took out to start his company. This campaign isn't about erasing that debt, it's about keeping things running long enough for Jonny to get these products in front of Japanese retailers so he can start earning on his own. Once that happens, the main monthly burden is gone, and I can pay the final loan down myself.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If we exceed the goal, every additional dollar goes toward paying off that US bank loan.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If we fall short, nothing is wasted. Every $4,800 raised keeps Jonny working for another month, and each month is another chance for these materials to reach release.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Other ways to help
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If you would prefer a tax-deductible donation, you can send a check, PayPal or Venmo payment to Odaiko Sonora, who is umbrellaing me as an NPO, which allows supporters like yourself to receive a receipt for your donation.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>All of the ways to receive a tax-deductible donation via Odaiko Sonora are available in the website for my related project, Waves of Harmony - <a href="https://wavesofharmonymusic.com/support-us" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://wavesofharmonymusic.com/support-us</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>If you would prefer to get something for your money, I'd heartily encourage you to purchase something from Bachido. I have several shamisen here in California all ready to ship, and that would give the most bang for your contribution, as they say.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Shamisen available from California:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tochikarin-tsugaru-shamisen-with-elite-itomaki-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tochikarin-tsugaru-shamisen-with-elite-itomaki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tochikarin-tsugaru-shamisen-with-elite-itomaki-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/like-new-shitan-nobezao-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/like-new-shitan-nobezao-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/like-new-shitan-nobezao-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/mk-001-almost-new-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-with-zouge-itomaki-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/mk-001-almost-new-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-with-zouge-itomaki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/mk-001-almost-new-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-with-zouge-itomaki-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/mk-006-second-hand-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-with-elite-itomaki-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/mk-006-second-hand-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-with-elite-itomaki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/mk-006-second-hand-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-with-elite-itomaki-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/akatsuki-shamisen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/akatsuki-shamisen/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/akatsuki-shamisen/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-003-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-003-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tw-003-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-004-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tw-004-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-005-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tw-005-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-006-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-chuzao-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-006-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-chuzao-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tw-006-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-chuzao-from-tokyo-wagakki-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-007-brand-new-vintage-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tw-007-brand-new-vintage-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california/</a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-001-brand-new-vintage-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://bachido.com/store/tw-001-brand-new-vintage-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bachido.com/store/tw-001-brand-new-vintage-kouki-tsugaru-shamisen-ships-from-california/</a></a>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>And if you can't give right now, sharing this with anyone who plays or loves shamisen genuinely helps.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>So, I'm asking for your help to keep Bachido running stable for four more months. If Bachido has touched you in any way, I would be immensely grateful for your help at this moment.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>It's truly a race against the clock here now, so if there is any way you can help, I would greatly appreciate it.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Many thanks,
</div>
<div>Kyle
</div>

Andrew Yobs

Christian Roese

Kensei Sekiguchi

Heikki Toivanen

Peyton Farrar

Masako Fujiya

Justin Wisniewski

Joshua Schultz

Stewart Evans

Jon Butler

Andreas Tellenbach

Emmanuelle Clerc

Matthew Hicken

edwin itoh

David Drake

Heitor Ignacchitti

Anonymous

Susan Mahlen

Alessandro Zecca

Bobbie Facer

Help Save Bachido

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

currencyCode

Money Box Donation List Prompt Experiment Audience

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

NPO upsell education category

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

NPO recommendations prod

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

categoryGroup

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

NPO upsell animals category

NPO upsell disaster relief category

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

NPO upsell essential needs category

NPO upsell medical category

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

NPO upsell cancer category

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Help Save Bachido

Still $20,097 to go. Help us build momentum.