The Roving Ronin Report

Yabusame is Japanese horseback archery, a tradition that goes back well over 1000 years. The first samurai referred to their profession as "The Way of the Horse and Bow" - the sword as a principle weapon coming much much later. This Yabusame event took place in Nikko which is 2 hours north of Tokyo. It's the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867). The Ogasawara Ryu (school of archery) conducted the event. They do Yabusame there in May and October. Early Samurai excelled more in the use of the bow and horse than the sword Yabusame Archers wear medieval hunting clothes Striking the board brings good luck and prosperity to all

Joma Shinji is a New Year's Japanese Archery Ritual for driving away evil for the coming year. Six archers dressed in formal samurai kimono known as kariginu shoot two arrows a piece at a large circular target. On the back of the target is painted an upside kanji character for "oni" which means "devil." Striking the target is believe to expel evil particularly shots which pass through the oni character. Since ancient times in Japan, arrows have been seen as having the power to banish and destroy evil. Even the twanging of bow strings is thought to ward away evil spirits. During New Year's, decorative wooden arrows are sold at temples and shrines as good luck charms for the coming year. Joma Shinji takes place at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura on January 5th. The ritual dates back to a time when Kamakura was the military capital of Japan (1185-1333). The first hereditary shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, promoted a variety of military type ritu...

Yabusame is a Japanese Shinto ritual involving mounted archery. Archers ride at a full gallop and shoot at three targets set up at certain intervals. To hit all three, an archer is considered to be very skillful. The ritual's purpose is to bring prosperity and peace. This video is a complilation of Yabusame events I have been to over the last two years. There are two different schools of Yabusame - Ogasawara Ryu who perform at Asakusa (here 2007&2008) and Takeda Ryu who perform at Meiji Shrine (2006), Miura (2007), and Kamakura (Spring 2007 & Fall 2008) The song is called " Gunslinger Man " and it fits with the old tradition of samurai on horseback using bows rather than spears and swords as they did in later times. The Yabusame costume looks rather cowboy-ish. The music is by the Exotic Ones: The Exotic Ones This is a short clip of Yabusame being performed at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo

YABUSAME - JAPANESE MOUNTED ARCHERY BEFORE THE SWORD CAME THE BOW A yabusame archer wearing formal hunting clothes from the 13th century It has often been said:  The sword is the soul of the samurai.  Much has been written in Japan and around the world about the Japanese samurai sword and its nigh-mystical aspects. The sword was an indispensable weapon of the samurai warrior, even when guns began to steadily come into use during the 16th century. A sword was a mark of samurais status and honor. They were heirlooms to be passed down generation after generation. Swords of exceptional make were often given as gifts of great honor. Yabusame depicted on a folding screen And yet in the early history of the samurai, it was the bow, not the sword, that was praised. Early samurai warriors referred to their profession as the  Way of the Horse and Bow. Stories about a heros prowess with the bow abound in the folklore and military legends of this time period. Enemies both mortal and monstrous were...

Momote Shiki: Japanese Archery Ritual  Centuries-old ritual held for the fortune of new adults Archers in old style kimono preparing to shoot n the archery ritual known as Momote Shiki Seijin-no-Hi or Coming of Age Day is celebrated all throughout Japan on the second Monday of January. Throughout the country, similar ceremonies and activities take place among those newly turned 20 such as the wearing of special kimono, going to shrines, attending speeches, and so on. At Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, a unique ceremony takes place that is often overlooked in favor of seeing the kimono-clad girls that populate the shrine on that day. Behind the main shrine complex an archery ritual known as Momote Shiki is performed for the good fortune of all those turning 20 and becoming new adults. Archers wearing a style of formal kimono that samurai once wore in olden times shoot two arrows a piece at a central target. Archers arriving at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo The Momote Shiki ceremony is conducted by the O...