Narrator: The most distinct aspect
of a Japanese bow is the length.
At over 2 meters tall, these bows are difficult to handle.
And making them is just as challenging.
Bowmakers file raw bamboo
and insert over 100 wedges to curve the bow.
Depending on the materials, these bows can cost over $2,000.
So how are these bows made?
And why are they so expensive?
Longbows have been used in Japan for centuries,
but today you'll mostly find them
in a martial art called kyudo.
Narrator: You can buy a synthetic bow
for around $400.
But many experienced archers
prefer the feel of handmade bamboo bows.
Kanjuro Shibata's family has been making bows
for over 450 years.
It all starts with raw bamboo.
Kanjuro tries to obtain most of his bamboo locally,
from around Kyoto.
But it has to dry for three years
before it's ready to be used.
Kanjuro shaves the dried bamboo
down to a thickness of 4 to 5 millimeters.
This is one of the most physically demanding parts
of the process, because the bamboo is dense and fibrous.
Narrator: A Japanese bow consists of three main layers:
two pieces of bamboo and an inner core called nakauchi.
The nakauchi is made out of laminated bamboo
and wax-tree wood,
and it's much harder than the bamboo on the outside.
Narrator: Kanjuro glues filed bamboo
on either side of the nakauchi to form the bow.
For some bows, he uses a natural glue called nibe,
which is harder to work with,
making the final product more expensive
than the bows that use synthetic glue.
But the hardest part is bending this straight bamboo
into the shape of a bow.
Kanjuro winds rope around the bamboo
and inserts over 100 wedges
while bending curves into the bow.
Because of the bow's length,
this process is extremely tedious.
But it must be done quickly, before the glue dries.
Thanks to decades of practice,
it takes Kanjuro around 10 to 15 minutes.
Narrator: Despite the importance of the step,
Kanjuro only shapes his bows by eye.
Narrator: After the glue dries, Kanjuro removes the wedges
and bends the bow into its final shape.
Narrator: Kanjuro's bows cost anywhere from $900
to around $2,200, depending on the materials used.
But bows made for display can cost a lot more.
Narrator: His family's clients include
everyone from local kyudo practitioners
to the imperial family.
But Kanjuro wants his bows
to be accessible to more people.
As long as it doesn't affect the final quality,
he tries to make the process as efficient as he can.
Narrator: Despite the high price,
using a well-made bow that feels good
is essential for archers.