Senpodo is an independent guide to kyudo, the way of the Japanese bow, and the equipment it uses. These English pages explain how to begin as an adult, what gear you need and in what order, and how to choose it — in clear, practical terms for practitioners outside Japan.
Buying from outside Japan? We do not hold stock, but we can order a yumi, arrows, a glove or strings from makers and shops in Japan for you and ship them to your country. See Ordering kyudo equipment from overseas.
Kyudo is a quiet martial art of posture and breath rather than speed or force. The core equipment — the bow (yumi), string (tsuru), arrows (ya), and the glove (yugake) — is gathered in stages, not all at once.
Start here
- Can You Start Kyudo as an Adult? A Beginner’s Guide
- The Equipment You Need to Start Kyudo, and What to Buy First
- Kyudo Equipment Costs: Bow, Arrows, Glove and Wear
Choosing the bow
- Bamboo or Synthetic Yumi? The Kyudo Bow Decision, Including the Case That Reverses It
- Kyudo Bow Length Table: Height, Draw Length, Namisun and the Nobi Sizes
- Kyudo Bow Length: Nami-sun vs Nobi-sun, and How to Choose by Height and Draw
- Kyudo Bow Strength (Kyuryoku): A Guide for Beginners
- Buying a Used Yumi: What to Check, in What Order, and When Not to Buy Second-Hand
- Types of Kyudo Bow (Yumi): Glass, Carbon and Bamboo, and When to Think About Moving to Bamboo
- When to Replace a Yumi: Signs a Kyudo Bow Is Worn Out, and Signs It Is Only You Who Has Changed
Arrows and strings
- Choosing Kyudo Arrows (Ya): Shaft Materials, Feathers, and How Many to Buy
- Kyudo Arrow Length: How to Measure Your Yazuka, and Why the Extra 10-15 cm Matters
- Kyudo Bowstrings: Replace at 600 Shots, and Why Hemp and Synthetic Are Not Interchangeable
- Kyudo Targets: Kasumi, Hoshi and the Makiwara
- Asazuru: Choosing a Hemp Bowstring for a Kyudo Bow — Monme Sizes, Draw-Weight Guides, Dry Seasons and the 300-Shot Rule of Thumb
The glove
- How to Choose a Yugake (Kyudo Glove): Three-Finger vs Four-Finger, and Fit
- Ordering a Yugake From Abroad: The Measurements, and the Post-Only Rule
- Giriko (Rosin) for Kyudo: How to Apply It, Types, and Too Much vs Too Little
- Yugake Care and Storage: Drying, Softening, Giriko, and the One Thing You Must Never Do
- Yumi Care and Storage: Protecting the Bow’s Nari, by Material
- Travelling With a Yumi: Trains, Cars, Flights, and the Three Things That Damage a Bow in Transit
- How to Wear Kyudogi and Hakama: The Dressing Sequence, and Where to Tie Tight and Where Not To
- Shitagake: The Cotton Under-Glove That Protects Your Yugake, and How Many You Really Need
- Caring for Kyudo Arrows: Check Four Places, and Know Which Damage Stops You Shooting
- How to String a Yumi: The Sequence, the Three Methods, and the Three Checks Before You Draw
- Spare Kyudo Bowstrings: How Many to Carry, the Tsurumaki, and a Spare That Is Actually Ready
- When to Replace a Yugake: What a Kyudo Glove Repair Can Fix, and What It Cannot
- Yazutsu and Yabako: Choosing a Case for Your Kyudo Arrows
- Kyudo Beginner Sets: What Is in Them, and What to Choose Yourself
- How Many Kyudo Arrows Should You Buy? Hitote, Yotsuya and Sets of Six
- The Gomu-yumi (Rubber Practice Bow): What It Trains, What It Cannot, and Four Things to Check Before Buying
- Washing Kyudogi and Hakama at Home: Read the Care Label First, Fold the Pleats Before Washing, and Never Wash the Yugake
- The nakajikake (nocking point) in kyudo: what it is, why it is thicker at the top, and when to rebuild it
- Choosing a kyudo bowstring: synthetic or hemp, how thickness is numbered, and matching the string to your bow
- Kake-himo: Choosing a Replacement Strap for Your Yugake (Length, Width, Deerskin or Synthetic)
- Kyudogi and Hakama Sizes: What to Measure Before You Order, and Why Your Usual Clothing Size Misleads You
- The Tsuruwa (Bowstring Loop): Single or Double Knot, the Right Size for the Urahazu, and Why You Should Not Keep Re-tying It
- Kusune: What Kyudo’s Bowstring Resin Is For, Summer vs Winter Types, and Why Shops Disagree About Using It on the Glove
- Muneate: The Kyudo Chest Protector, Where It Goes, and How to Choose One That Actually Covers the String’s Path
- Putting On a Yugake: The Order, How Tight to Wind the Strap, and the Checks a Kyudo Shop Uses to Tell Whether It Fits
- Kyuha (Brace Height) on a Yumi: How to Check It, Why Too Low Is the Problem, and Whether to Fix the String or the Loop
- Makiwara Arrows (Makiwara-ya): What They Are, Why They Never Go on the Target Range, and How to Choose One
- Fudeko: The Kyudo Powder for the Bow Hand, How It Differs From Giriko, and What to Check Before You Blame the Powder
- Kyudo Tabi: White Split-Toe Socks, How to Read the Sizes, and Summer, Winter or Year-Round Fabric
- Yumimaki: The Long Cloth Wrapped Around a Japanese Bow — What It Is For, How to Wrap It, and What Size to Look For
These are all the English guides published so far. The rest of the library is currently available in Japanese.