The World’s Longest Bow,Handcrafted to Perfection

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.