In between days, the yumi is now strung with a thin tsuru, like the one we use in practice. It still has to settle, and many corrections to the shape still may be made.
But for us the final touch can be made. That means making the grip and the ratan windings, one above the grip and two at the ends.
The grip is prepared by folding a postcard for an extra soft rounding of the maedake side, covered with paper tape. Then the ratan above the grip is done. There are two kinds: the single one of 3 sun (3,03 cm) length, tapered from the beginning to the end, and the triple one, consisting of two stretches of 2,2 sun and one of 2 sun, only tapered at the very end. For most of us Soma-san again proves his skill at this small jobs and does the work for us; some do it on their own, with just his directions.
Now we have acomplete yumi, that can be ‘broken in’, which means shooting a lot of ya with it at the makiwara, starting with drawing it ten cm, then half an arms length, and then more and more, until finally a full draw can be made.
The workshop ends there. We all look at our yumis, as proud as Punch. We may not have done all the work on it, we sure have the feeling that we have done a lot, and with that had a determining influence on the quality, shape and looks of something very special, that will hopefully further advance our kyudo practice.
We thank the Shibata family for their warm hospitality (and great, delicious meals every day!) and sensei, Munehiro-san and Soma-san for their formidable help and their enduring patience. It was a fantastic experience!
Peter Fokkens, Panta Rhei, Holland
Sensei is heating the yumi... and correcting its shape
Folding a postcard for the grip
Preparing the grip
Making the ratan
And there we are, all with our precious equipment. Thanks again!!
But for us the final touch can be made. That means making the grip and the ratan windings, one above the grip and two at the ends.
The grip is prepared by folding a postcard for an extra soft rounding of the maedake side, covered with paper tape. Then the ratan above the grip is done. There are two kinds: the single one of 3 sun (3,03 cm) length, tapered from the beginning to the end, and the triple one, consisting of two stretches of 2,2 sun and one of 2 sun, only tapered at the very end. For most of us Soma-san again proves his skill at this small jobs and does the work for us; some do it on their own, with just his directions.
Now we have acomplete yumi, that can be ‘broken in’, which means shooting a lot of ya with it at the makiwara, starting with drawing it ten cm, then half an arms length, and then more and more, until finally a full draw can be made.
The workshop ends there. We all look at our yumis, as proud as Punch. We may not have done all the work on it, we sure have the feeling that we have done a lot, and with that had a determining influence on the quality, shape and looks of something very special, that will hopefully further advance our kyudo practice.
We thank the Shibata family for their warm hospitality (and great, delicious meals every day!) and sensei, Munehiro-san and Soma-san for their formidable help and their enduring patience. It was a fantastic experience!
Peter Fokkens, Panta Rhei, Holland
Sensei is heating the yumi... and correcting its shape
Folding a postcard for the grip
Preparing the grip
Making the ratan
And there we are, all with our precious equipment. Thanks again!!