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Yame Arrows

Yame Arrows

About Yame Arrows

In the current Yanagawa City (formerly Tachibana clan), arrow makers were hired to start making them.
It is a strong and thin arrow that gives it a beautifully distinct tenderness. Archers nationwide love this arrow.

Yame arrows came about because of the Shinotake bamboo (shinodake or shinobetake), which was readily abundant in the Yabe River Basin. The Tachibana clan, present day Yanagawa City, began using the bamboo to make arrows. Yame arrows are made of Shinodake bamboo, which has very few sections (fushi). The arrow itself is a beautiful arrow that is thin, but strong. Although bamboo warps, because of use, and requires care and maintenance, shooting these arrows has a unique feeling not found in other materials. When a set of arrows, which consists of between 4 to 6 arrows, are shot, they all have to fly the exact same way. The Yame arrow is completed by combining adjustments (tame sagyo) to straighten the bamboo, and carefully applying the feather area to the other parts.

The History of Yame Arrows

Yame arrows are known to archers nationwide for the beauty of their flight and the feathers. 350 years ago, the lord of the Tachibana clan at the time, started production after settling in Yame, which is rich in the type of bamboo that is perfect for making arrows. Arrows were initially made for war, but nowadays they are popular for archery and as decoration. Currently, there are several production facilities in the Chikugo district, but it is unusual that there are so many facilities in one area, especially compared to how many there are around the country.
In 1984 Yame arrows were designated as a prefectural governor-designated specialty crafts item.

  1. Yame Arrows
Yame Arrows

The Characteristics of Yame Arrows

Japanese archery

Yame arrows are completed through dozens of steps by a skilled arrow maker (yashi). The process of making arrows consists of cutting, sanding, polishing, burning, adding a notch, and feathers, etc. Lastly, the bamboo shaft is straightened to complete the finish. Currently, although production areas that make arrows from pretreatment to finished product are decreasing, Yame is still doing the process manually to this day.
Yame arrows are known to archers nationwide because of the quality of the arrows and the beauty of their flight. City dojos are full of archery enthusiasts.

  1. Japanese archery is flourishing in Yame.