Japanese men dressed in traditional hunting attire, thundering down a narrow dirt track on horseback, taking aim at small wooden targets with bow and arrow – that’s yabusame and you can see it in Kanagawa this weekend.

Traditional Japanese archery on horseback, or yabusame, is impressive to behold.  The riders, known as ite, display an amazing amount of dexterity when they raise their bow (shigedo) and arrow (ebira) to the target (shikinomato) while navigating their mount down the course with only their legs.

The practice or yabusame dates back to the 7th century when royal guards or local samurai displayed their skills in exhibitions of jabusame as a form of entertainment for the nobility.  After the decline of the nobility the practice of jabusame continued as a martial art that was considered exercise for young samurai, not only in horsemanship and archery but also in concentration, discipline and refinement.

The practice of jabusame is considered spiritual by many and the riders shout “In-Yo!”, meaning to align the spirit and soul with the universe, as they release their arrow towards the target.

If their aim is true they are rewarded a burst of confetti, when the wooden the shikinomato shatters, and a loud cheer from the assembled crowd. Should they  miss the shikinomato, an audible groan can’t be missed and should they loose control of their mount and fall off, tradition dictates that they must get up, dust themselves off and walk the remainder of the track alone.

Odawara Castle Yabusame Exhibition Schedule

Saturday, March 21, 2009 – Practice and qualifying session from from 9AM until 2PM
Sunday, March 22, 2009 – Samurai Parade at 10:40AM followed by a “Skill Shot Performance” from 1-2PM and finals a 2:15PM

* Children can experience “Pony Archery” both days
* Schedule may be altered due to rain.

Click for more information on the 7th Annual “Bajo Yumikurabe” (PDF) at Odawara Castle.

Access: Odawara, Kanagawa is thirty-five minutes from Tokyo on the shinkansen (bullet train) and Odawara castle is a 10 minute walk from Odawara station.

Kanagawa has a lot to offer visitors, learn about other things to do and see in Kanagawa prefecture.

Photo Credit:  Personal Collection

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