But in the face of limited resources, she dedicated herself to perfecting her craft by practicing with a bow and arrows made of bamboo, showcasing her unwavering determination and commitment.

An curved arrow pointing right. Longbows, or Yumi, have been used in Japan for centuries. But today, a handmade bamboo bow can cost over $2,000. At over 2 meters tall, these bows are difficult handle.

This story appears in the June 2016 issue of National Geographic magazine. Elias Machipango Shuverireni picks up his long, palm-wood bow and his arrows tipped with sharpened bamboo. We’re going ...

He would also spend his free time making things like bows and arrows, fishing poles and kites out of bamboo strips. Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app.