Next to the yumi, the yugake and the hakama, the case your arrows travel in is easy to leave until last. Many archers carry their arrows in whatever the club lends them, and only buy their own after a feather is crushed or the arrows no longer fit.
Yet an arrow case is an item that is easy to buy twice. A common reason is simple: the case was bought to fit the arrows of the time, and the next arrows are longer.
This page sets out the two main kinds of case, what to measure before buying, and what matters when your arrows have to travel far.
The short version
- A yazutsu (矢筒) is a tube; a yabako (矢箱) is a flat box. They protect different things.
- Measure three things first: your arrow length (with room to spare), the number of arrows, and how you get to the dojo.
- What gets damaged is usually the fletching, not the shaft. Look at how the feathers sit inside.
- Check the inside length printed by the maker, not the outside length.
Yazutsu and yabako protect different things
Both hold arrows, but they are made for different situations.
| Yazutsu (tube) | Yabako (box) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | A tube, often carried on the shoulder | A flat box with a handle |
| Mainly protects | The whole arrow from bending or breaking | The feathers from being crushed or bent out of shape |
| Suits | Daily travel on foot, by train or by bicycle | Tournaments, grading, arrows with fine feathers |
| Takes up | Length (it is tall) | Area (it is wide) |
As a rough rule: if you carry arrows every day, a yazutsu is practical; if you want to protect good feathers, a yabako is the safer choice. Some archers own both and pick by occasion.
Three things to measure before you buy
1. Your arrow length, with room to spare
The inside of the case must be longer than your arrows. That sounds obvious, but the mistake is to buy for today’s arrows.
Arrow length starts from your yazuka (矢束), the drawing length: measured from the centre of the throat to the tip of the left hand’s middle finger, with both arms held out sideways at shoulder height. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation says arrows should be at least 5 cm longer than the yazuka, and about 10 cm longer for beginners whose form is not yet settled; the All Japan Kyudo Equipment Association adds 10–15 cm to the measured length. How to measure is explained in Kyudo Arrow Length.
Your next arrows may be longer than your current ones:
- Younger archers are still growing, and their yazuka grows with them.
- Archers who change bow length (for example from namisun to a longer nobi bow) usually move to longer arrows as well.
Choose a case with a few centimetres of spare inside length. That alone often saves one replacement.
If you practise with makiwara arrows (short arrows for close-range practice at the straw target) and want to carry them in the same case, measure for the longer of the two sets.
2. How many arrows
Kyudo arrows are shot in pairs: one hitote (一手) is two arrows, the haya and the otoya. Count the arrows you actually take to practice, plus any spares, and check the capacity the maker states. A case that is packed too full presses feathers against each other.
3. How you get to the dojo
The route decides the case.
- Train or bus: a long tube is awkward in a crowded carriage. Check that it has a shoulder strap and can be held upright.
- Bicycle: check that it can be carried on your back. A case poking out of a front basket at an angle is dangerous.
- Car: bulk is not a problem, so a yabako becomes easier to use.
If you are carrying a bow at the same time, plan the two together; the bow is longer than any arrow case.
Look at where the feathers sit
This is the part people overlook.
If the feathers are pressed against other arrows or against the inside wall, they get crushed. Feathers directly affect how the arrow flies, and replacing them costs time and money (Choosing Kyudo Arrows explains what affects arrow prices).
Check two points:
- Are there dividers? Does each arrow have its own slot, or do they all go into one tube?
- Is there room around the feathers? When the arrows are in, do the feathers sit free rather than squashed?
A tube without dividers is lighter and cheaper. If you chose your arrows partly for their feathers, a case with dividers is worth it.
Materials
Cases are made in plastic or resin, fabric or synthetic leather, wood, and metal. Rather than rank them, ask two questions of the one in front of you:
- Will it stop pressure from outside? A soft fabric case is light, but it will not protect against being crushed in a crowded train or under other luggage.
- How heavy is it when full? Wood and metal protect well but add weight you will carry every practice.
When arrows travel far
For archers outside Japan, arrows are often ordered from a Japanese kyudo shop and shipped, or carried to seminars and gradings abroad. A few points apply then:
- Shipping and airline rules for arrows differ by carrier and country. Check with the carrier before you travel, not at the counter.
- Feathers are the weak point in transit. A case with dividers and room around the fletching matters more for a long journey than for a short one.
- If your arrows use eagle or hawk feathers, check the rules on those feathers before taking them across borders, as well as the Federation’s rules on feathers at tournaments and gradings.
When to buy
- When you first start: many clubs and dojo have shared equipment. You can wait until you have arrows of your own.
- When you buy your own arrows: this is the natural moment, because you now know the length to measure.
- When you start taking arrows outside your dojo: tournaments, gradings, seminars, moving clubs. Many people first need a case here.
For the full list of what a beginner needs, and in what order, see Kyudo Starter Equipment. For a sense of overall costs, see Kyudo Equipment Costs.
FAQ
Is a yazutsu or a yabako better? Neither is better overall. A yazutsu is easier to carry every day; a yabako protects feathers better. Choose by how you travel and how much your feathers matter to you.
How much longer than my arrows should the case be? Check the inside length the maker states and make sure your arrows fit with some room. If you are still growing, or may change bow length, leave a few centimetres more.
Can I keep makiwara arrows in the same case? Yes, if the inside length fits the longer of your arrows and the case is not packed so tightly that feathers touch.
Can I buy a used case? Cases have few moving parts, so their condition is easy to judge. Check the inside length, any broken dividers, and the state of the clasps and strap.
Related pages
The ways of measuring the yazuka and adding to it come from the All Nippon Kyudo Federation, “道具について“, and the All Japan Kyudo Equipment Association, “弓道具の選び方” (both checked 8 October 2026). Inside dimensions, capacity and materials differ by product; check the maker’s description, and ask your instructor or the kyudo shop if you are unsure.