When you buy a kyudo bow, two cloth items come up: the bow bag, and a long, narrow strip called a yumimaki (弓巻, “bow wrap”). If the bow is already in a bag, why wrap it as well? And how long does the wrap need to be for your bow?
This page explains what a yumimaki is for, how it fits with the bags around a bow, the order in which it is wrapped, and the sizes and materials that Japanese kyudo shops list. For moving a bow by train, car or plane, see Travelling With a Yumi.
The short version
- A yumimaki is a strip of cloth wrapped around the bow. Its purposes are protection, keeping the bow clean, and preventing it from drying out (product description, Suizan Kyugu-ten: printed yumimaki).
- The same description calls it the formal way to put the bow in a bow bag (yumi-bukuro) first, then wrap the yumimaki over it. For bamboo bows it suggests an inner sleeve (ukon-bukuro) plus a yumimaki. The same shop sells a synthetic-leather bag “for protection after wrapping the yumimaki” (Suizan: leather bow bag).
- Shop listings give a size of about 260–270 cm long and about 12–13 cm wide. One cotton wrap is listed as fitting bows up to yonsun-nobi (233 cm).
- One shop says cotton, which absorbs moisture, is considered the most desirable material. Polyester wraps are also sold.
Three layers, three different jobs
Shops use the word “bow bag” for different things. From the inside out, these are the three layers that can go around a bow:
| Layer | Item | Shape | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (inside) | Inner sleeve (ukon-bukuro, 右近袋) | A long, narrow cloth sleeve the bow slides into | Sits directly on the bow |
| 2 | Yumimaki (弓巻) | A long strip of cloth | Wrapped over the sleeve: protection, cleanliness, preventing drying |
| 3 (outside) | Outer bow bag (yumi-bukuro, 弓袋) | Synthetic leather, nylon and so on; some have a reinforced end cap (ishizuki) | Outer protection for carrying and storage |
Suizan Kyugu-ten describes its synthetic-leather bow bag as something used “for protection after wrapping the yumimaki” (Suizan: leather bow bag). Note that the word yumi-bukuro is not used for one fixed layer: in Suizan’s yumimaki description it is the bag the bow goes into before it is wrapped.
You do not need all three on day one. Some new bows come with an inner sleeve or a bag, and what is included varies by maker. Add what did not come with the bow.
How a yumimaki is wrapped
Suizan Kyugu-ten publishes the steps in its product description (Suizan: printed yumimaki). In order:
- Roll it up first. Rolling the wrap with the lining facing outwards makes it easier to wind on.
- Hook the pocket at the front end over the top tip of the bow (urahazu, 末弭).
- Make one turn around the area of the sekiita (関板), the hardwood plate just below the top tip.
- Make one turn around the himezori (姫反り), then wind down towards the bottom tip (motohazu, 本弭), turning the bow as you go. Wind the first part firmly.
- When you reach the bottom tip, about 10–20 cm will be left over. Fold the remainder in half and wind it around the bottom tip.
- Wrap the tie at the end around the bow and tuck the loose end through to fasten it.
The same description covers carrying a bow with the string removed. With a hemp string (asazuru), for example, the unstrung bow goes into the inner sleeve, the string is wound around it, and the yumimaki is wrapped over the top. This keeps the string’s resin (kusune) from getting on other things, and for a bamboo bow it also helps protect the bow from changes in temperature.
Once it is wrapped, carry the bow so that neither tip knocks against anything. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation stresses that bows need careful handling “not only in management and storage, but also when carrying them” (ANKF: About equipment, Japanese).
What to check when buying one
1. Length: is it long enough for your bow?
Check the length first. The wrap runs from tip to tip, so make sure it is long enough for your bow’s length class (sansun-tsumari, namisun, nisun-nobi, yonsun-nobi). Suizan’s cotton wrap is listed as fitting bows up to yonsun-nobi (233 cm). If you are not sure which class your bow is, see Kyudo Bow Length: Nami-sun vs Nobi-sun.
2. Width: around 12–13 cm
Both shops in the table below list widths of about 12–13 cm. Width affects how the turns overlap, so unless you are changing the design, a wrap in this range is the safe choice.
3. Material: cotton or polyester
Suizan writes that “cotton, which absorbs moisture well, is considered the most desirable material.” Sambu Kyugu-ten’s patterned wrap is 100% polyester. The choice comes down to whether you put more weight on preventing drying, or on pattern and easy care. If you use a bamboo bow, Suizan’s note is worth reading: protecting it with an inner sleeve plus a yumimaki keeps it in good condition in storage.
Shop listings (official shop pages, checked 5 November 2026, prices include Japanese consumption tax)
| Shop and item | Material | Size | Price (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suizan Kyugu-ten, printed yumimaki, asanoha pattern | 100% cotton | About 260 cm × 13 cm (fits up to yonsun-nobi) | 1,870 yen |
| Suizan Kyugu-ten, dyed-pattern yumimaki (somenuki) | Polyester (per item name) | — | 4,400 yen |
| Sambu Kyugu-ten, yumimaki, standard pattern (F-098) | 100% polyester | About 270 cm long, about 12 cm wide | 1,820 yen |
Sources: Suizan: printed yumimaki, asanoha / Suizan: yumimaki, bow bags and end caps / Sambu: yumimaki, standard pattern. Prices and patterns change. Check each shop’s page before buying.
Making your own
There is no pattern on this page. Instead, here are the finished dimensions and shape of shop-made wraps, as a reference:
- Size: about 260–270 cm long, about 12–13 cm wide (table above)
- Shape: a pocket at the front end that hooks over the top tip, and a tie at the back end to fasten the last turn (from Suizan’s wrapping instructions)
- Length: the shop wraps leave 10–20 cm at the bottom tip, which is folded and wound around it. If your bow is longer than yonsun-nobi, or you want a different number of turns, lay cloth against your own bow to decide the length
- Fabric: one shop recommends cotton (see “Material” above)
If you already have a yumimaki, unrolling it and measuring it is the most reliable guide.
FAQ
If my bow is in a bag, do I still need a yumimaki? In Suizan’s description, putting the bow in a bow bag and then wrapping it is the formal method (for bamboo bows: an inner sleeve plus a yumimaki). Whether you need one depends on how often you carry the bow and what it is made of (bamboo bows in particular). If your dojo or club has a rule, follow it.
Should the bow stay wrapped when it is stored at home? For storage itself (keep it upright, avoid heat and humidity), see Caring for and Storing a Yumi. The yumimaki is the layer on top of that, for protection, cleanliness and preventing drying.
Summary
- A yumimaki is a cloth wrap for protection, cleanliness and preventing drying.
- The formal order is bow bag → yumimaki (bamboo bows: inner sleeve + yumimaki). An outer bag over the wrap is optional.
- Wrap from the top tip down to the bottom tip. Fold the remainder around the bottom tip and tie it off.
- When buying, check length (enough for your bow), width (about 12–13 cm) and material (cotton or polyester).
Product descriptions, sizes and prices on this page were checked on the shops’ official pages on 5 November 2026 and may change. If you are unsure how to handle your bow, ask your teacher or a kyudo equipment shop.