A yugake (弽, the deerskin glove worn on the right hand in kyudo) is usually the piece of equipment you own longest and adjust to most closely. It is also the one most easily ruined by good intentions. People who would never put a bow in a washing machine will rinse a sweaty glove “just this once”, and that single rinse is often the end of it.
This guide covers what a yugake needs after each practice, how to store it, how much giriko to use, and what to do when something goes wrong. The aim is simple: keep the deerskin soft, dry, and in shape.
The short version
- After every practice, let the sweat and moisture out before the glove goes back in its bag.
- Dry it in the shade, never in direct sun or next to a heater.
- Work the leather gently by hand if it starts to stiffen.
- Use giriko (rosin powder) sparingly. Too much clogs the leather.
- Store it in its bag with a desiccant in humid months, without crushing it.
- Never wash it in water or with detergent. Deerskin hardens and distorts.
If you remember only the last line, you will avoid the most common way a yugake is lost.
Why a yugake needs care at all
The yugake is a hand tool made of deerskin (shika-gawa). Beginners usually wear a mitsugake (三つがけ), the three-finger type covering the thumb, index and middle finger; the yotsugake (四つがけ) adds the ring finger. Either way, the leather absorbs sweat and skin oil and slowly moulds itself to your hand. That is what makes a worn-in glove feel right.
The same quality makes it vulnerable. Deerskin dislikes water, heat and over-drying. Mishandled, it goes hard, loses its shape, or grows mould. Unlike a string or a set of feathers, a yugake is not a cheap consumable: at one Tokyo kyudo equipment shop, ready-made three-finger gloves start at 17,600 yen, and several models cost around 30,000 yen or more (tax included; Koyama Kyugu official online shop, checked 6 October 2026, https://www.koyama-kyugu.com/products/list?category_id=58). Care is how you protect that cost.
If you are still choosing one, start with How to Choose a Yugake, and if you will order from outside Japan, Ordering a Yugake From Abroad.
After every practice
1. Let the moisture out
A glove that has absorbed a session’s sweat should not go straight into its bag. Closed up damp, it stays damp, and that is how stiffness and mould begin. Take it off, open it out, and let air reach it for a while before you pack it.
2. Dry it in the shade
When it needs drying, dry it in the shade, somewhere with moving air. Direct sunlight dries leather too fast; the surface stiffens and can crack. Let it dry slowly and naturally.
3. Keep the leather supple
Leather tends to stiffen as it dries. If you feel it beginning to harden, work it gently with your hands to bring back some flexibility. Gentle is the word: forcing it damages the leather and the stitching.
4. Keep it away from heat
A car parked in summer, a radiator, a sunny windowsill: these are hostile places for a yugake. Heat dries and distorts deerskin. If you drive to the dojo, take the glove with you rather than leaving it in the car.
The hikae (wrist support)
The hikae (控) is the reinforced section at the wrist that supports it during the draw. It is usually stiffer than the rest of the glove, and if sweat builds up there or it is bent the wrong way, the whole glove starts to feel different.
Treat the hikae the same way as the rest: let it breathe after use, do not fold it hard or force it into a shape, and store the glove so that the hikae is not bent under pressure. Some gloves are sold as hikae-nashi; this does not mean they have no hikae, but that the hikae has no stiff core and is soft. The drying and storage advice is the same.
Giriko: enough, not more
Giriko (ぎり粉) is a rosin-based powder put on the glove’s middle finger (ring finger on a four-finger glove) and rubbed against the thumb, to create the right amount of friction between the fingers so the hold on the string does not slip. It goes on the fingers, not on the string. It matters for a clean release, but too much is one of the ways a glove is damaged.
| Amount | What happens |
|---|---|
| Too much | Rosin builds up on the leather, turns sticky, and contributes to hardening and dirt |
| Too little | Not enough friction; the fingers slip off the thumb and the release becomes unstable |
| Right amount | Stable release, and the leather stays clean |
Application, types, and how to tell “too much” from “too little” are covered in Giriko (Rosin) for Kyudo.
Storage
In its bag, but only once it is dry
A yugake normally lives in its own glove bag (kake-bukuro). The rule is the order: dry first, bag second. A damp glove sealed in a bag is the most common route to mould.
Desiccant in humid months, but do not overdo it
In humid weather, put a desiccant sachet in the bag or storage box, and replace it regularly. The opposite extreme also hurts: leather that is dried out completely goes stiff. You are aiming for “not damp”, not “bone dry”.
Mould and insects
If you are not shooting for a while, take the glove out from time to time and look at it. Leather can attract insects as well as mould, so keep the storage place clean and aired.
Keep its shape
Do not stuff the glove into a corner of your kit bag or put heavy things on top of it. The thumb and the hikae will take on bends you do not want. Lay it so it keeps its natural shape.
If you live outside Japan
Most yugake are made in Japan and then live in very different climates. Two situations come up most often:
- Humid summers (coastal regions, tropical climates, air-conditioned buildings with humid air outside). Moisture is the main risk. Air the glove after every session, use a desiccant, and do not leave it sealed in a bag in a hot car boot or a humid locker.
- Dry winters with central heating. Over-drying is the main risk. Keep the glove away from radiators and heating vents, and do not add desiccant when the air is already dry.
In both cases, the safest storage spot is the kind of room you would be comfortable in yourself: no direct sun, no blowing air, no sudden swings in temperature.
What not to do
- Washing in water or with detergent. Deerskin is weak against water; washing causes hardening, distortion and deterioration.
- Drying in direct sunlight. The leather dries too fast and cracks.
- Storing it somewhere hot. Cars and heaters are the usual culprits.
- Using too much giriko. It cakes, turns sticky and stiffens the leather.
- Sealing it in a bag while damp. This is how mould starts.
If the glove is dirty enough that you want to clean it, do not try home remedies. Ask your instructor, or contact a yugake maker or kyudo equipment shop about whether and how it can be cleaned or repaired. If you are writing from abroad, describe the problem and include clear photos of the thumb, the palm and the hikae.
A routine that keeps a yugake for years
Nothing on this list takes more than a minute, which is exactly why it works:
- Take the glove off and let it air before packing.
- Dry it in the shade if it is damp.
- Work it gently if it starts to stiffen.
- Keep giriko to the right amount.
- Store it dry, in its bag, in a room without sun or heat.
Habits from a three-finger glove transfer unchanged if you later move to a four-finger yotsugake.
FAQ
Can I wash my yugake? No. It is deerskin, and water and detergent both cause hardening, distortion and deterioration. Release sweat and moisture by airing and shade-drying. For serious dirt or damage, consult a shop or craftsman rather than trying it yourself.
My yugake is getting stiff. What should I do? Work it gently with your hands to restore some flexibility. To prevent it, air and shade-dry the glove after use, keep it away from sun and heat, and avoid drying it out completely.
Is more giriko better? No. Too much builds up on the leather and stiffens it; too little lets the fingers slip off the thumb. Aim for the right amount; see Giriko (Rosin) for Kyudo.
How should I store it long-term? Dry, in its bag, with a desiccant in humid periods, in a room without direct sun, heat, or high humidity. Keep its shape and take it out occasionally to check for mould.
What is the single most important habit? Letting the glove air out after every practice before it goes into the bag.
Related pages
- How to Choose a Yugake (Kyudo Glove)
- Ordering a Yugake From Abroad
- Giriko (Rosin) for Kyudo
- Kyudo Equipment Costs
This page summarises general care practice for deerskin kyudo gloves (checked October 2026). Makers and instructors may give more specific advice for a particular glove; follow theirs where it differs. We are an independent guide. We do not clean or repair equipment, but we can order it from makers and shops in Japan for you — see Ordering from overseas.