Yumi

Yumi is the japanese term for longbow. The samurai were very skilled in the art of kyūdō, or Japanese archery.

Components
The yumi is most commonly made out of laminating bamboo, wood, and leather. The techniques for creating the yumi hasn't changed at all.

Shape
The yumi was created for use in mounted combat, where the wielder could easily move the bow for different targets. The grip is positioned at about one-third the distance from the lower tip of the bow with the lower and upper curves of the bow different. The shape is also for kneeling while shooting.

String
The string (tsuru) of the bow is traditionally made of hemp in the time of samurai. Now most string for the yumi is made up of kevlar, which will last longer.The strings are not replaced until they break. This is healthy for the yumi, because this results in the yumi flexing.