The Hirota B-602 obi is a great obi! The quality is top notch. The belt is a little thicker and wider and provides a more professional feeling to it. The embroidery my son asked for was done excellent. The silk of the obi has a deep black color and a fine shine finish. The orange embroidery pops out great. This is an obi which will do the job for many years. And...this kind of obi's will look great too when the get older and will become worn out a bit. This is an obi with a soul!