Why Japanese Longbows Are So Expensive | So Expensive
Longbows, or Yumi, have been used in Japan for centuries. But today, a handmade bamboo bow can cost over $2,000. At over 2 meters tall, these bows are difficult to handle. And making them is just as challenging. Kanjuro Shibata carves raw bamboo and inserts over 100 wedges to curve the bow. So how are these bows made? And why are they so expensive?
You can learn more about Kanjuro Shibata’s workshop here: shibakan.site
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Why Japanese Longbows Are So Expensive | So Expensive
I love the extreme duality of Japan. Hi tech yet has deep connections to traditions hundreds of years old.
Your country has no artisans? Italy: glassblowers/pasta, Tibet knife makers, Moroccan leather tanners, Turkish rug makers, Maori/New Zealand jade artisans, Portuguese tile makers, german cuckoo clocks etc. Stop by any artisan market and you will find something similar everywhere.
it is not as hi tech as you think, perhaps it was in the 80's. but now they have stagnated
@@jobt1999 they maybe slightly less high tech than countries like China, but then again if they still use tech that is still used since the 80's or at least use them as basis it goes to show that their product is truly high tech and of high quality if it could handle the test of time, you don't see Chinese tech lasting long even their buildings collapse on their own due to budget cuts, poor resourcing and lack of ingenuity, so i think Japan still stands as the most high tech country of all despite what any country would say, the only thing holding them back with technological advancements is morality, they understand that some things shouldn't be invented or reinvented they understand and they are aware that the solution to the problem is another problem but at least guarantee that it would pose less of the problem than the main one, that's how I've viewed the design principles of Japanese technology during my time analysing them
@@thegamingwolf5612 I cant blame them, considering how bad printers are that printer ink became the most expensive liquid in the world at one point, it was a more traditional and more simpler means of sending over hard copies without the hassle of going through your documents sending the link and having the recipient print it after downloading, like I said they understand that some thing just doesn't need to be reinvented, also considering that their files hardly lack color or visuals they don't need ink for the process and the built in laser printer in the fax machine is incredibly convenient
@@thegamingwolf5612 yeah but not everything has to be digital, the Japanese love to keep hardcopies of files for record and it is reasonable in my opinion, its not reliable to rely on a cloud of information when it can be rendered useless when technology doesn't work as intended circumstances such as hackings, leaks, short circuits on the server mainframes, a less likely emp attack, but most of all its accessibility, files are to be kept at safe keeping where it can only be viewed and used via physical contact and the Japanese makes sure to defend their files like its money in a bank, its partly the reason why there hasn't been much news about japanese company records getting leaked or distributed to the public and causing scandals and an overall damage to the reputation of the company, meanwhile western companies and even company owned sites like facebook, twitch, and etc. are more susceptible to info leaks since they store everything in their domain guarded by only a few firewalls that even an amateur hacker could break through with enough time
I really like how he is concerned with not making his product reserved for a small group through cost. He cuts time and cost where he can while preserving the important traditions and quality. Bravo. That’s how you help traditions survive.
Lies again? Target Marketplace
@@NazriBlol wat
@@wyattearp585 man just warped to another comment section mid argument.
@@NazriB
@@NazriB
I bought my bow from his father in 1984, 39 years later it is still going strong. At that time, Kanjuro-san was about 20 or so. He translated for me. It was a pleasure to be in the presence of his father.
How does a person get in touch with him to have a bow made? Thanks in advance. 🙏
@@grendel.6.531 are you stupid? His website is literally on the description. Their bows is a brand, if you get in archery in Japan you'd hear about them like immediately. Like guitarist with Les Pauls', and Steinway's with pianist.
This man is not only a craftsman, not only an engineer, but also a philosopher. I am deeply impressed. He is a good guy with the right values and an incredible level of skill.
Same here, friend. I was looking for this comment.
I like how he is willing to adapt to modern times but still preserves tradition and the needed quality
What his tik tok?
@@user-pi2lq bruh
Yeah. By simplifying the tedious part, he can focus on improving the overall quality. I always finds it puzzling for those people who is very strict of doing things the old way and look down on those who reinvent the process.
@@user-pi2lq he doesn't have one lmao
@@user-pi2lq Bruh, this has to be the dumbest thing I've seen all week
Like how practical he is. Willing to change tradition and adopt modern technology to increase efficiency. The bows aren't even that expensive.
Agreed. As some of the olympic recurve ones can also be quite similar in price if I recall.
The hype is real...overprice and not really pratical..
@@kkk6880 If you want practical, you'll need a gun. Not a bow. And bows are generally pretty expensive, and used only for sports, sometimes hunting. But even then, why would you need to hunt to survive in a first world country?
@@raphaelkap idk where you're at but here I. The us a lot of hunting is pretty important In the few areas that have banned it if you take a hike you'll quickly see lots of very hungry wildlife At this point the ecology of this country needs humans to shoot a percentage of it
@@thisaccountisntreal107 You act like humans are needed to balance ecosystems. The only real trouble is that we slaughtered a lot of predator species, but even then, animal populations stabilize on their own as long as they're not an invasive species
The fact that his family has done this for over 450 years is super impressive and amazing!
Japan is a country where people are still deeply devoted to their traditional crafts. Amazing to see that go side by side with the modern high-tech they also make. I could watch this guy for hours in silence, just enjoying his skilled craftsmanship.
*engineering
This is Kanjuro Shibata the 21st. He is the leader of my school of Kyudo. He’s a low key, unassuming guy. He comes over the the US and does workshops periodically, and I was lucky enough to attend one and watch him bend a bow with wedges. He is using the same techniques that were used 400 years ago. Japanese bows are so long because Japan didn’t have a good supply of either hardwood or cattle bone and sinew. They relied on relatively weak bamboo. The longer the bow, the less any one part of it bends. Notice that the grip of the bow is not in the center but about 1/3 of the way up. That is better for both short people and horseback use. The thing about a yumi (Japanese longbow) is that it is both high performance and delicate. These days beginners start on fiberglass bows because you can break a bamboo bow if you use it wrong. Use it right and you get more arrow energy for less pull weight than a Western European longbow. Kyudo is a great meditative practice.
Why do people in this video doing the archery like some sort of ritual (in the video, they kneeling at the same time like ritual) ? Is it what you mean by Kyudo is a meditative practice? I don't know much about cultural, but i am curios, so sorry
@@alphaquinon1688 There are many variations on the basic practice, some standing, some kneeling, some with many people synchronized. The bow was the original main weapon of the samurai. It is also the symbol of the emperor. It has been used in religious rituals in Japan for centuries. Once the bow became obsolete in warfare it gained more significance as a ritual practice. Today there are various schools of kyudo. Some are more focused on competition and advancement. Others (like mine) are more focused on kyudo as a meditative practice. There is a bow, an arrow, and a target, but the kyudoka (practitioner) is not focused on hitting the target or scoring points. The kyudoka is focused on the proper form of shooting. If this is done right the arrow hits the target. The point is to move past elation and disappointment, success and failure.
Thanks for explaining about the logistical story of why it had to be ~ l o n g ~ and made of bamboo. Anyway, can Japanese longbows last better in rainy/damp weather than other east asian composite bows (heard somewhere that composite bows may break in damp weather due to the glue that keeps it together getting wet & washed off - maybe in Medieval Total War 1)
@@kikokltzhke8266 Traditionally they are all made with natural hide glue, so none are immune. A yumi (Japanese bow) changes with humidity, even when made with modern glue. I don’t think they would fall apart in the rain but I don’t think they would perform as well.
It’s hard to argue that anyone made mired of the bow than the English. They dominated European wars with their bow mastery.
21st-Generation Bow Maker?!?!? He's a legend! It's expensive because people like this are artisans who take time and dedication to make his work. Simply amazing
I hope there is a 22nd-Generation!
That's wild
@@Matixmer there is ^^
he said he doesnt like being called an artisan, hes an engineer.
It becomes a scam when artisans that produce basic goods that are expensive. Such as those candle makers, fans, bamboo cups, etc. Oh, its handmade and its from tradition so we must charge a lot.
One of the reason I love Japan is that they're good at keeping many of their traditions alive.
The beautiful balance of using technology to make craft grade product available to all and no sacrifice to the integrity of the product or tradition.....God bless this man,he is keeping history alive
Why japanese stuff is expensive? Answer: The effort of Japaneses artisans in their craft is beyond belief
Mainly because they are good in promoting stuffs and also because of their tradition of gifting expensive presents. Not just at holidays.
@@PhoenlxA bruh, Japan is not good on promoting stuff.. kinda leading to *EFFORT*
I don’t really see how this is “so expensive” 2k for an extremely well made bow doesn’t seem expensive.
@@michaelwalker9575 he might means generally many japanese stuff, something like 100 dollar for a melon or 1kg of grapes.
Cringe
Compared to other products on this show, this one actually has a good balance between cost, craftsmanship, and performance. For some products, the cost seems to correspond more to the ego of the maker than the actual worth of the item. This is a very high-quality item that many people will be able to afford if they save up.
The price is a good price for a bow this simple to build? Maybe you should check other bows like the korean or mongolian bows with their absolute qualities and below $400 pricing.
@@zetprimordial7087 you ever made a bow before? A normal western longbow is quite difficult work. He talked about carving the bamboo to the right thickness, needing to age the bamboo 3 years, and did you see the amount of shaping that was done? There appear to be five separate pieces of bamboo on this bow and that’s if you consider the core to be one piece. You really do be belittling this man’s trade.
@@connorgrynol9021 uhhh yes I've built a bow. A couple of bow with very poor equipments so i have to manage. It wasn't perfect but it shoots well. I built my bow in total of 7 days with many rests. Its not hard so keep a bow curve. I know you're a weeb and all but if you think about it, a $2000 bow for something this simple isn't worth. I'll just the kheshig mongol bow for example. That bow is extremely beautiful and the price is $360. The price comparison is extreme. Honestly I could go all day but I'm pretty sure you'll read and not understand any of this. I could build a bow like this and sell it for $200 or more depending on how much material I used up.
@@zetprimordial7087 you’re probably right about me not understanding if you went on, your English needs work. I’ve checked out Mongolian bow making. It’s not as complicated as this. There’s a tremendous amount of time put into these bows. $2000 is for bows that are traditionally made. Traditional materials, craft and aesthetic. The bows he crafts can be as cheap as $900, and he’s attempting to make it cheaper by making the process faster. His trade is literally building bows it’s not a hobby. If it takes a week to make a bow, then a $200 price tag isn’t gonna keep on the lights. I’ve never made a decent bow but I’ve worked on a birch bark canoe with five other people. The instructor was payed $8000 CAD for that one week. Gathering materials, aging materials, pealing the bark off the black spruce roots, all that takes time and effort. Time is money and you clearly don’t understand that.
@@connorgrynol9021 Dude’s claiming he can replicate $2000 bows for $200. I don’t think he deserves a reply until he can prove his claim. If he can match the quality, why not take over and make a killing on a $1800 markup? Otherwise, he’s just another random egotistical know-it-all on KZhead who likely has never handled a traditional Japanese bow.
I love how Japan has traditions that through dozens of family generations. I've seen multiple videos with Japanese people carrying on a tradition for centuries
Then they hand it down to the only son who only wants to watch anime and has no interest in pro creating
450 years of traditionaly bow making. This Man is incredible. Respect for him.
Finally! A Japanese craftsman who isn't trying to sell us the usual "10 yr story". He genuinely sees that making the product more attainable keeps the sport alive, and therefore increasing the potentional market for the more expensive heritage pieces.
He calls himself an engineer, denies being called a craftsman.
Dude even use an iphone and apple watch. Safe to say he is not one of those snobby "craftsman".
The bamboo needs to dry out for 3 years.
@@ssnarashi and?
@@ssnarashi that is how wood works, the drying affects the quality of whatever you‘re making.If he didn’t dry the bamboo the bow would warp over time and become useless.
Call me crazy but $2000 for a quality hand made traditional bow is a deal. Traditional archery is an art and it would be amazing to have such a bow. I have longbow and recurve bows and this would be an honour to add to a collection. I am wondering its draw weight/ poundage on average. Also it would be a nice follow up video on the making of arrows.
Your crazy
@@bipolarbear69 so that means you proved his point then
@@baoquoc3710 he told me to
you are crazy then )))
Google told me that a Yumi bow they use for kyūdō has 26 to 35 lbs of draw weight 😊
I'd agree that he's an engineer. He's also an amazing artist.
i saw this guy in anime
@Yourfather1372 Only a feeble mind resorts to insult instead of a counter argument.
@Yourfather1372 Proof positive. Stay safe.
@@Jw-no7id true
Beautiful bows; what a privilege to watch them being made. My own solid yew English longbow cost nearly £1,000, so the prices being asked for these craftsman-made Japanese longbows seems reasonable to me. I know people who paid a lot more than that for some golf clubs (not even a full set). 🇬🇧
An English longbow is allot simpler to make but yew wood is very expensive these days due to its use in pharmaceuticals.
Right? If you have any hobby or passion that involves artisan craft at some point in the process, you intuitively understand why it's expensive.
@@davidlegrice4207 The medicine made from yew wood is now typically made synthetically -- what causes a lot of the shortage is that most old-growth yew wood has already been used.
yea, my pool cue cost more than these bows. This seems like a bargain in comparison.
@@davidlegrice4207 It's still very tedious to make, just in a different way and not as much I guess.
It's cool to see people appreciate the art and still move with time and make things more accessible to more people. What a cool human being
Japanese Archers: 10 years to learn how to hold the bow.
@@aaronkirchinger issa joke
3 years to put arrow on the string and a life time to release it
@@diersanharits5292 Then the person hit by that arrow died of old age.
Press E to master it
@@greenleafyman1028 an arrow of time
To be honest, 2000 bucks for such an amazingly well made bow is not expensive. This is actually very affordable, even for regular earners and people who are into kyudo only as a hobby.
I hope you realize majority of bows are hand mades, which some cost less.
Are you kidding me? You can get a hand made Turkish/Nomadic recurve bow for give or take 400 bucks. And they are among the best bows you can get. 2k is a shit load for a bow.
@@direct2397That's not a turkic or nomadic bow though, it's a kyudo-bow. They're made in much lower quantity, and only in Japan, which is a very expensive country to live in. Sure, if you make bows in a relatively low-income country and ship them to the US for example, they're going to be much cheaper.
@@Labroidas i never said that is a nomad bow. I just said you can get a hand made nomad bow that is cheaper, probably a lot sturdier and more fun to shoot.
@@direct2397 You can also get a handmade Turkish/Nomadic recurve bow for a hell of a lot more than 400 bucks. 400 buck is shootable and fun to plink. It isn't high quality. 2000 is a good price for that bow this guy makes. It's a LOT better quality than you 400 dollar bow.
I don’t know much about bows but seeing this is just memorizing. It’s a elegant deadly weapon but yet an art on its own. So captivating.
It's amazing how Japan is keeping their cultures alive and are genuinely proud of them.
They have a lot of history to be proud of. Not a lot of countries can say the same, especially the relatively younger nations. A place like Japan has been around for so long, you're gonna want to keep as much of the past around as possible.
@@UTxTheArchangelkinda random but I went to their shop. For proof they had an old yellowish lab and a white mini poodle
Always so impressive to me when i hear that these family businesses existed for hundreds of years, just imagine how much the world around them changed in the past 400+ years, while the art/craft stayed mostly the same. 😌
To continue on with the tradition of how longbows were constructed to present day is a man with dedication and the will to never let the past die off. Even though it's tedious work, it just shows people never want to forget the past. I understand why Kanjuro Shibata says he wants to be seen as an engineer, but the craftsman definition is more fitting as all of his work is handmade.
I love Japanese culture. They strive for perfection in everything even in what the rest of the world would consider "mundane tasks".
I like this dude, most of the other handcrafted people do things purposefully the slow way just so they can ask for more money. but this guy has real dedication for the craft and wants to share it, and if that means using an electric saw to cut wedges he will do it.
Not only an engineer, but a wonderful historic artist.
I think the composite bow was the best bow in ancient times,much easy to learn to use,superior range in comparison with the long bows,yet the skills of the old warriors was truly amazing.
Depends, there's a reason why composite bows are generally used in dryer conditions as the glue that is used to make the bows will delaminate
The Japanese Yumi bow is very weak compared to other ancient bows, especially horn bows..
English Longbows can shoot up to 300 yards. A Yumi bow can shoot up to 200 yards.
@@christov4120 The Yumi Bow that we see today have been watered down due to it becoming a ceremonial weapon for religious purposes. Traditionally they were more tight and stronger as horse and kneeling bows.
Composite bows fear moisture, when animal glue gets wet it stops being a solid, which will lead to draw weight loss and often times, unscheduled rapid disassembly, considering the weather of England... You get the idea. Most bows used in southern China are self bows, through China has the composite bow technology and composite bows are widely used in China. A "not-the-best" bow is better than no bow. The yumi bow situation is more to do with limited resources.
As a Korean, I took up bow when I was a kid. I have incredible respect for Kyu-Do of Japan. Such a fine art and incredible craftmanship.
I appreciate his view of efficiency and how he knows it’s one of the largest driving forces for increased prices. He wants to give people the chance to experience the quality with a lower cost
Everything in Japan is so expensive lol but their quality speaks for itself
Not for bow tho it's very inefficient
@@smithgeorge6858 they dont use them for hunting... Of course a compound modern hunting bow is more "efficient". These are for the martial art of kyudo as well of cultural reverence.
@@matthewmammothswine4395 Someone like him won't understand that.
@@matthewmammothswine4395 lol? Only Japanese archery is art? I am not even mentioning a compound bow I was talking in terms of other archery culture You think recurve bows are for only hunthing? Maybe you should search for gungdo and Turkish archery
@@smithgeorge6858 He didn't say that.
Idk what it is but anytime I see someone doing something ancestrally it warms me heart
I remember when I lived in Japan as a kid, there was a building in a park where archers would practice. Always thought it was fascinating. Such an awesome culture.
"I need people to trust me as the bowmaker" Those are deep words.
This gentleman looks like he knows what he is talking about.
Nah shit
We need more people with his philosophy, I love how he approaches what he loves to do and to make it accessible.
I love the history and evolution of this man’s techniques. He is the epitome of a great engineer 🙏
I like how the maker continuously improves his processes, using modern tools if needed.
Anything Japanese handcraft masterpiece doesn't surprise me anymore as to why they are expensive. Worth every penny.
What a master! He embraces technology to make the final product cheaper for the public without sacrificing the quality
An artist that excels at his craft. 400 years of family tradition. Oh the stories that family workshop could tell.
450 years means all the way back into the Sengoku Period. This man’s family has been making bows since bows were still used to kill people. That’s how you know it’s truly high quality, I suppose!
You have a weird thoughts on life, time have changed. This mans trade is now used for archery and declarative displays. I am sure this traditional ways of manufacturing will be lost within a generation.
@@femto505 lol im just kidding man. of course the modern bows arent created with murderous intent. i was just commenting about how they must’ve been some reliable bows in battle back then if the trade has been passed down for 450+ years
It's difficult to read sarcasm with words.
The amount of time and dedication and sheer force of will japanese craftsmen possess that they pour into their trades never fails to astound me... I mean, his family has been doing this kind of work for over 450 YEARS! I mean, seriously, think about that... In the 1570s Oda Nobunaga was waging war across Japan and the people fighting could have been using bows MADE BY THIS GUYS ANCESTORS, and here he is, today, using the same materials and techniques, literal centuries on... Wow.
It's interesting when you look at the kyudo practitioners, and you imagine them in their everyday clothes in America, you'll think of them as ordinary little old grandmas... but they're actually bad arse granny long bow shooters. 🤣🤣🤣
What a masterpiece of work!
Shibata-san: I don't like being called a craftsman. Yutsubo-san: What an artisan!
I was once a competitive archer and had piles of the most modern equipment you could buy but found myself regress to handmade recurves even down to stone points on hand made wooden shafts and natural fletching. That was my favorite period because it was all natural needing no electricity to make. It was every bit as expensive as modern equipment but the feel was priceless.
I like his attitude of making improvements to the technology where he can, as long as it doesn’t change the fundamental build of the bow. Kyudo belongs to everyone, not just the elite
Japan. A small country with limited trees and resources, have strived to make everything long lasting and with precision. Every product is really meant to last a lifetime and function perfectly through out a person’s life and beyond. The Japanese also view work in a spiritual way, so their ancient art forms are Buddha grade.
Limited trees bro have you been out of the city yet
@@Noducks4life compared to other countries, natural resources in Japan are limited. What they have is abundant is access to ocean with rich sea life.
@@m3mario I get your point when you say compared to other countries (California is as big as Japan)
Japanese are so polite in speech that even they are fighting , they seem like mother and son discussing abt dinner's menu
Just saying that their family makes bows for 450 years is enough to say why they are expensive.
They've been making bows longer than the age of the USA
@pawan shrestha true thats why fruit in japan its very expensive
@pawan shrestha if u have a passion u can do it , like organic vege some people not choose cause its expensive but for someone who want a healthy lifestyle they still buy it.
its astonishing to see the amount of precision and effort put into making such a large and effective bow
Truly a great artist. Thank you for sharing this.
so cool really like hereditary work, I know people are free to choose their future. but I hope they always have kids descendants who want to inherit family techniques. Moreover, work that contains cultural values is very cool, unique and honestly expensive in every aspect
As a Kyudo practicer, this is extremely interesting and satisfying to watch. My Yumi was on the cheaper end, made by experts in the ukraine but this is another level.
Seeking the finest quality and making crafts as flawless as possible are highly important for fine craftsmenship
It's expensive because it's not just a bow...it's an art piece handmade with love and pride JAPANESE PRIDE...I have so much love and respect for my Japanese brothers and sisters..
Great to see such traditions kept alive!
As people say I’m referred a “Morden archer” but I’m really fascinated by how much work these bows take like don’t get me wrong compounds and recurves do take time but this this is another level of difficulty
Your opioid disgust me. Japanese long bow is in another level than recurve bow? Do your research
@@smithgeorge6858 damn. Kinda idiot to argue with you. We talk about culture and you, make baseless argument which bow is superior
@@smithgeorge6858 do you even know what I’m trying to say? Use that brain if you’ve got 1 before calling people idiots
@@smithgeorge6858 well tell me is makin a recurve (Wooden) harder than making such a Japanese piece of art
@@smithgeorge6858 also I never said that it is superior I just said the work taken in making it
The process looks intense with many steps and ultimately with a perfect product!!!
imagine the knowledge one could absorb spending a year with him in his shop....the bows are gorgeous and he's quite impressive
The running joke of "because its japanese" doesnt apply here for once. Actual years of skill and practice!
No it’s because it’s Japanese
to learn something utterly and completely useless to anyone or anything.
To be honest their archery or bows are not even impressive they are long but not as powerful as recurve bows many ancestors from different parts of the world used.
@@joryharris8002 Only the impatient make such statements. There is great benefits in learning to master a skill or craft.
@@smithgeorge6858 They aren't built for power. If you knew anything about Kyudo you would understand that.
Haven’t even watched the video yet but here’s a guess. It is handmade and the skill takes years to master 😪
Loll 😂
A lot of expensive things are the handmade XD
Nono the line is "it takes X years to learn, a lifetime to master"
No no it takes a life time to learn holding it and X times reincarnation to master it.
Very impressive..I have been a student of Archery since 1957... my uncle ,Martin, taught me how to make my own bow..n ...my own arrows... I thank you for sharing this moment! 👍🏹🧙♂️🏹👍
this type of craftsman ship, ideas, technology of combining "hard core and softer exterior" to both bows and katanas. very cool
Japanese craftmanship that's why! So diligent and passionate on their craft and work that I wish I have an ounce of their dedication rn
Some google search can tell you japanese bows aren't that great compared to other traditional bows but a great art piece
poor quality though
I can never thank you enough MRS STACEY MIRIAM, for the things that you do for me. Your constant effort to make me happy is highly appreciated. Thank you!
If I get more into archery, I’d definitely save up for one of these! Archery is an extremely difficult sport, I don’t know if I’ll ever seriously pick it up again, but this is inspiring.
what a magnificent work, there is only harmony in the gestures and the result it is extraordinary to see how he honors his ancestors through the continuity of the gestures learned and the work accomplished
We can't pinpoint 21generations , amazing in it's self, but we're still here because of the 🏹 bow!!! Love the workspace and totally respect craftsmanship . Sir Thank you 😊 Who made your pull knife?!
This looks like a really hard craft to do but he makes it look effortless. It's truly beautiful.
His workshop is so aesthetically pleasing
Loved this video. So informative and fascinating.
Amazing that the process starts with 3 years of just letting the wood dry. The first time the bow starts it's process, it is already years in the making
It's not much different if you want to make good quality wooden bow: wood has to dry for a long time and in very specific conditions
@@RomaInvicta202 indeed. I was just watching a wainwright in Montana that ages his wood at least 10 years.
@@dbmail545 10 years?! That's amazing!
Wait until you hear about some top quality luthiers who have wood from the 1980s in their drying racks that they use for acoustic guitars. Overkill? Maybe, but those pieces of wood still have to all be in the same environment for a long time to ensure they are all at the same moisture level, or shit will warp and crack after it's put together. Same would be true for the bows, which are made of multiple pieces of wood from different sources.
@@Ryan_Thompson Certainly not overkill if one has idea how such things are made I'm for one very happy the ancient craftsmanship still exists; in Asia, in Europe, in Africa These people can make things that survive hundreds of years - doubt any of us has furniture older than 10 years ;)
I love Japan and the ancient culture. Hopefully, I can visit soon. Also, this reminds me of Ghost of Tsushima and the legendary bows in it
Shibata Sama has my most respectful greetings from Brazil for his amazing work
Love it! Wish i could sit and watch in person to learn... cool this will be around for a looooong time
This whole series can be summed up with "rare or handcrafted by an artisan"
His father: _"Good. Now make it without touching the bamboo."_
I love this guy how he said he wants to make it more accessible and it would only be used by a certain group and he doesnt like that whatban honorable man
You come to expect stuff like this to cost way beyond your purchasing power, but this guy is proving noble objects can be made for everybody who’s ready to invest a reasonable amount of time working for it.
誰でも作れるらしい… KZheadで作り方見た貴方はもう職人ですねw
I love how Japanese people maintain and continue all their traditions and still have super high tech living in harmony .
Americans could learn many things from Japanese culture.
Japan is only high tech in cartoons
@@tshirtnjeans4829 right...and where are you from?
@@dw3299 Shanghai
Shanghai is so worldwide famous for fake goods.haha.
I know people spending $5,000 or more on things that I wouldn’t give $10 for. With these bows, you know what you are paying for has real value with this masterpiece craftsmanship
The difference is the worth of the item to someone.
I need this. I really do! As a kid, I use to make my own simple bow and arrow with bamboo. 😁
The man is an artist totally dedicated to his craft. The same artistry used by sword makers in Japan.
Ghost of Tsushima made me have a deeper appreciation and respect for kyudo. I wish there was a kyudo school in my city 🇯🇵🇺🇲🏹
He's not a engineer, He's a master of art, the art of hardwork
Youre spot on Siddhartha !!!!!
Big respect to this guy and generations of him..
Wow, amazing, thank you for the video
Absolutely amazing work. I must own one of these and learn to master its use. Each one is a masterpiece.
I love and respect everything about Japanese.
dude u are not just an engineer, u are an artist also!
I like the Mongolian recurve bows, so small and light yet very powerful.
Mr still waiting ever so patiently for the next episode of boot camp: 😙
Amazing craft, Indonesian traditional bow also use bamboo (and some animal parts like horn), but its usually a short bow. *papua use a long bow
And it's just as good and costs 100x less
Just absolutely amazing.
Everything about this is outstanding