Miyazaki-jingu Shrine

Miyazaki-jingu, located in the city of Miyazaki in Miyazaki Prefecture, is a shrine sacred to Japan's first emperor, Jinmu. The present sanctuary was reconstructed here in 1907. The oshirafuji (white wisteria) in the shrine grounds is believed to be 600 years old, and has been designated a Natural Monument by the Japanese government. Old wisteria trees including this tree grow all over the shrine grounds. The shrine, famous for the magnificent flowering of these trees from middle to late April every year, bustles with visitors. The local people have taken great care to preserve the forest of the shrine, which is known as Jinmu-sama.

Miyakonojo daikyu (archery bows)

Miyakonojo-daikyu (lit. great bows) are made in the city of Miyakonojo in the south of Miyazaki Prefecture. Japanese bows are made of bamboo, and bow-making was a thriving industry here from about the 18th century onward due to the large amount of bamboo produced in this region. Archery survived as a martial art even into modern times, with production growing even further and bows being sent to other parts of East Asia. 90% of the bows in Japan are produced in this region today. As all the processes involved in bow-making, including finding the right bamboo, are carried out by a single craftsman, it is said to take over ten years to master the traditional techniques for each process. Around ten bow makers work here now, and Miyakonojo-daikyu bows were designated a traditional craft in 1994.