The World’s Longest Bow, Handcrafted to Perfection

Jun 20, 2025

「EP.47」都城大弓

MIYAKONOJO DAIKYU
Miyazaki Prefecture

「transcript」

From ancient times, the bow and arrow have stood as Japan's most influential weapons. Among them, the Miyakonojo Daikyu reigns supreme, over 2 meters long and crafted in Miyazaki Prefecture. While its precise origins are unknown, records from the late Edo period already highlight the area's flourishing bow-making under the Shimazu lords.

Crafting begins with top-grade materials: a core of hazeno-ki wood aged up to 20 years, layered with madake bamboo. Each bow undergoes more than 200 steps, all completed by a single artisan. Bamboo is harvested in the dry winter season, then dried for months and fire-cured to draw out oils and strengthen the material. These layers are glued, pressed, and shaped using the uchi-komi method, hammering in wooden wedges to create a reverse bend.

The bow is then relaxed into its final shape, sanded, and wrapped in rattan and deerskin at the grip. The result? The longest bow in the world: balanced, flexible, and powerful. In skilled hands, it can pierce plated armor and launch arrows over 400 meters.

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