Tiny Rockets, Big Drama

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today, in honour of one of our History Nook Discord server members birthdays, we’re diving into one of my favourite examples of “Yes, this existed” in military history: Japanese bow-fired mini rockets.

Yes, you read that correctly. Rockets. Fired. From bows.

Fire arrows are not an uncommon weapon, but what happens when fire arrows meet matchlock technology?

These curious contraptions—known as bo-hiya—were essentially small incendiary rockets with a metal shaft, designed to set things on fire from a respectable distance. They were most famously used during the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in naval battles. Imagine being on a ship, seeing an enemy vessel in the distance… and instead of loosing a regular arrow, you send a tiny screaming firework hurtling through the air towards it. This is giving me early torpedo vibes.

The bo-hiya were lit with a smouldering matchcord before being launched from specially reinforced bows (or sometimes from handheld tubes, a bit like oversized Roman candles). Their main purpose was to start fires on enemy ships, but the psychological effect alone must have been worth it—because nothing says “I’m here to ruin your day” quite like flaming, hissing projectiles cutting across the sky.

They weren’t perfect, of course. Wind could spoil their aim, and there’s always the inherent danger of strapping fire to your own weapon. But in the right conditions, they could be devastating—especially against ships laden with gunpowder or flammable cargo.

In short: bow-fired mini rockets may not have been the most practical weapon in history, but they were certainly one of the most theatrical. And honestly? I respect the flair.

Happy birthday, Keizo—may your year ahead be as unexpected, exciting, and mildly hazardous as a perfectly-aimed bo-hiya.

🐾 A Footnote from Index: 🐾

Absolutely not. No flaming sticks in this house. Unless they’re kebabs. In which case, I will supervise from a safe distance (and take the chicken).