Japan Equestrian Archery Association to hold 'yabusame' event in Kamakura

The Japan Equestrian Archery Association will hold a yabusame event in Kamakura on Monday, September 23. Yabusame, part of Japan’s traditional culture, is a practice in which archers shoot through targets from atop galloping horses, all while praying for universal peace, a rich harvest, and people’s health.

In the upcoming event, archers will wish for world peace, people’s happiness, and the continuation of traditional culture as they aim at the targets. Consecutive English interpretation will be provided for the live commentary, and English-language materials will be handed out. We invite you to come and witness the power of the horses and mettle of the archers at close range; front-row seats are just three meters from the horse track.

Additionally, the event will feature exhibits and experiences of various aspects of Kamakura culture, including Noh theater, Kamakura-bori lacquerware, tea-drinking culture originating in Kamakura (tea will be served), food culture of the Kamakura period, and children’s archery experience. After the yabusame, visitors will have the opportunity to feed the horses that performed in the yabusame and interact with the archers, while children will also get a chance to go on hand-led horse rides.

The event is presented by the Japan Equestrian Archery Association, the Japan Arts Council, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Venue: Yabusame Kamakura Ground, Japan Equestrian Archery Association (Kajiwara, Kamakura City, Kanagawa)

Program: Yabusame, cultural experiences (Noh, Kamakura-bori lacquerware, tea culture originating in Kamakura, Kamakura-period food culture, children’s archery, Japanese saddlery and archery equipment), and more

Schedule (subject to change)

9 a.m. Gate opens; cultural experiences (see above)

10 a.m. Start of yabusame program (pre-archery rituals)

10:30 a.m. Starting drum (start of horseback action)

12 noon Conclusion of program

Cultural experiences (continued) and interaction with horses

1 p.m. Horseback archery in heavy armor, meet-and-greet with archers

1:45 p.m. Gate closes

• Registration is not required.
• Please check this website for any updated information.
• Seats will be offered to guests who donate ¥1,000 or more on entry.
• Due to limited space, admission may be restricted if capacity is reached.
• Visiting guests are asked to take precautions against heatstroke.

Please note that if it rains heavily, the event will be canceled.

About Yabusame

Yabusame is a form of traditional Japanese archery performed while riding a horse in dedication to the deities and praying for universal peace, a rich harvest, and people’s health. The art as it is practiced today was established about 800 years ago and is maintained and practiced mainly by the Takeda School of Horseback Archery and the Ogasawara School.

It is a Shinto ritual in which the archers aim at three targets to their left from galloping horses. As the archers shoot arrows in prayer, and not just to compete over their martial skills, yabusame is regarded as being of a highly spiritual nature.

Shooting arrows from a galloping horse is called kisha or umayumi. There are three major forms of kisha, namely yabusame, kasagake, and inu-ou-mono. Among these, yabusame is held in special regard as a Shinto ritual.

Highlights of Yabusame

The length of the yabusame track and distance between targets remain unchanged from the Kamakura period. However, many of the horses used in the ritual today are of Western breeds and are bigger in size and run faster. This makes it very difficult to hit the targets, as the archers only have a few seconds to nock the arrow before reaching the next target. The difficulty of yabusame may thus be higher today.

The archers are called ite, and only those who have undergone strict training can become one.

The ite have mastered the exceptional technique of tachisukashi, which is unique to Japan. Tachisukashi involves riding without pressing one’s legs against the horse’s body, with the hips hovering ever so slightly above the saddle. This highly difficult riding style allows the ite to maintain a stable posture without bouncing up and down, enabling them to aim accurately at the targets from horseback.

When viewing yabusame, we invite you to enjoy the dynamic power of the art and revel in the consummate shooting technique and refined riding posture of the ite.

Yabusame Costume and Saddlery

The ite wear hats called kimen ayahigasa and don either of two garments, hitatare or suo. On the left shoulder they wear igote, an arm guard with their family crest embroidered in golden thread. Their hips are covered with mukabaki (chaps) made of summer deerskin. On their waist, the ite wear a tachi, or long sword, and a short sword called maezashi or yoroi doshi. They also wear gloves, tabi (socks), and shoes called igutsu. They hold in their hand a bow called shigeto and carry arrows called jindoya tucked in their belt. Metal arrowheads are not used, as bloodshed is considered taboo in Shinto rituals.

The saddles are called wagura, while the stirrups are called wa-abumi—literally “Japanese saddle” and “Japanese stirrups.” The manufacturing techniques for both have been lost today, so the ite rely on antique pieces, repairing and using them with care.

The wagura are wooden and consist of such parts as maewa (pommel, arched front plate), shizuwa (cantle, arched rear plate), igi (contoured side bands connecting the pommel and cantle), and shiode (tie-downs attached to the saddle’s base). The wa-abumi are made of iron and are rather large, being designed to be stepped on with the whole foot. They are also known as zetsu-abumi or “tongue stirrups,” as they resemble the shape of a tongue. The hefty size and weight of these stirrups lend them stability, enabling the ite to ride in the tachisukashi style.

This article is commissioned under the FY 2024 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project of the Japan Equestrian Archery Association.

• External Link
• https://yabusame.or.jp/english/