Traditional craft
Miyakonojo Daikyu
都城大弓
Bamboo kyudo longbows from Miyakonojo in Miyazaki, the only place in Japan still making them, with about 90% of national output.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 4 April 1994
- Type
- Wood and bamboo
- Region
- Kyushu & Okinawa
- Official name in Japanese
- 都城大弓
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 都城市、北諸県郡三股町
Nine in ten bamboo bows
Miyakonojo Daikyu are the long bows used in kyudo, Japanese archery. They are made from madake bamboo and haze wood, with seven nodes on the outer bamboo and six on the inner. A fine bow balances the weight of its upper and lower limbs. Miyakonojo is now the only production area and makes about 90% of Japan's bamboo bows. It is made in Miyakonojo and Mimata in Miyazaki.
Bent by rope, wedge and foot
- A core is clamped between two bamboo strips.
- The bundle is bound with rope and wedges are driven in to bend it into a curve.
- The maker shapes the bow on a stand, using the feet to set the curve.
From the Kagoshima bow
The bows descend from the Kagoshima-style bow and flourished in the late Edo period. In the Meiji period the Kusumi father and son came from Sendai in Kagoshima and trained local makers. By early Showa, bows were sold as far as East Asia, and there were up to about 30 makers at the peak.
Good to know
- If you practise kyudo, ask a maker about bow length and draw weight for your height.
- A bow is long, so ask about shipping before you buy.
Questions travellers ask
Where are bamboo bows made in Japan?
Miyakonojo in Miyazaki is the only production area and makes about 90% of them.
What is a Miyakonojo bow made of?
Madake bamboo and haze wood.
Where it comes from
More crafts from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.