Kyudo Equipment

A Japanese bow is drawn to a greater length than its Western counterpart. As a result Japanese arrows (Ya) are also considerably longer than Western arrows. Traditionally, the shafts were made of a specific variety of bamboo (yadake) and fletched with feathers from both the left and right wings of larger birds of prey. And while bamboo arrows are still preferred, the fletching most used today comes from turkey, swan or other commercially available birds. In addition, more durable aluminum shafts have become a popular choice with high schools or other clubs that have a large percentage of novice practitioners. Because Japanese arrows use fletching from both wings the feathers naturally curve to the left or right. Arrows with feathers that curve to the left are called haya, or first arrows. Those with feathers that curve to the right are called otoya, or second arrows. They are traditionally used in pairs. The haya rotates clockwise in flight, the otoya rotates counter-clockwise.