Kamigamo Jinja Kasagake Ritual to Take Place on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 1 pm (JST)
The Kamigamo Jinja Kasagake Ritual will be live streamed on the Japan Equestrian Archery Association YouTube channel as part of the 2024 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0.
[Live stream] https://www.youtube.com/live/3PqbrNO56-4
The live stream is scheduled to last from 1 pm to 3 pm (JST). Please check it out.
＊The recording will be available for a limited time for those who missed the live event. We encourage you to watch it soon.
2024 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 project at Kamigamo Jinja Kasagake Ritual
• Tented seating (all seats)
• Live stream on the Japan Equestrian Archery Association YouTube channel (introduced above)
• Live screening event at the Kamakura Chamber of Commerce and Industry hall
• Joint exhibit with the Kamo Kurabeuma horseracing ritual
• Collaboration with Yoroinoya (armor exhibit, participation of armored warrior(s) in the procession)—collaboration with the local traditional culture of the host region
• Exhibit and experience of Kamakura-bori lacquerware by Kamakurabori Kogeikan—
collaboration with the traditional culture of Kamakura
• Introduction to yabusame by Rokkosan Bokujo—collaboration with sports yabusame
• Interaction with horses (horse feeding, photo session with horses)
• Meet-and-greet with archers
• Walk-through tour of the horse track by an archer—implemented as a new hands-on experience event
FY 2024 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project (by commission)
Yabusame at Kamakura Ground 2024, Second Edition
Monday, September 23, 2024
Canceled in case of heavy rain
Gate opens at 9:00 am
We will hold a yabusame event in Kamakura on Monday, September 23, 2024. 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.
We look forward to welcoming you to the event.
Venue
Yabusame Kamakura Ground, Japan Equestrian Archery Association (Kajiwara, Kamakura-shi, 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)
9:00 am：Gate opens; cultural experiences (see above)
10:00 am：Start of yabusame program (pre-archery rituals)
10:30 am：Starting drum (start of horseback action)
12:00 noon：Conclusion of yabusame program
Cultural experiences (continued) and interaction with horses
1:00 pm：Horseback archery in heavy armor, meet-and-greet with archers
1:45 pm：Gate closes
＊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.
Presented by
The Japan Equestrian Archery Association, the Japan Arts Council, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@yabusame.or.jp-2936/videos
Map
The Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 project took place at the Yabusame Kamakura Ground on June 2, 2024.
The number of visitors ascended to over 700. In spite of the rain forecast, there was sunshine during the yabusame performance as well as during the cultural exhibits and demonstration of yabusame in heavy armor. All the thanks to the visitors and to those who helped us realize the success of the event. This was the 8th presentation held at the Kamakura Yabusame Ground which opened in November 2020, and 4 of these took place with the co-sponsorship of the Japan Arts Council and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. Thus, Yabusame Kamakura Ground is a very important facility for the Japan Equestrian Archery Association.
We will endeavor to maintain and pass down to the next generation Yabusame and Kasagake reputed as symbols of our country’s traditional culture and to transmit their enchantment to the world.
It so happened that those who were working during the withdrawal got soaked due to the pouring rain and no one thought of taking photographs of that scene. All that happenings make up our important events.
Tencho chikyu no shiki ( Ritual to pray for prevailing peace in heaven and on earth )
View of the ground from the finishing point
The archer fixes the arrow drawn out from the waist to the bow
The archer makes a hit on the clay target in competitive shooting
The archer makes a hit on the clay target in competitive shooting
The archer makes a hit on the clay target in competitive shooting
The archer clad in heavy armor demonstrates horseback archery
On March 17, yabusame to pray for the recovery of Noto Peninsula took place at the Yabusame Practice Ground of the Japan Equestrian Archery Association.
Prayer was given for those who perished in the earthquake and wish for the quick recovery was made.
Over 500 people attended the event and 1,0619,360 yen was deposited in the charity box.
The whole sum was handed over to Kamakura City and to Kamakura Council of Social Welfare.
Many thanks to all those who cooperated in making the event successful.
The magistrate recites a prayer in front of the altar
The archer makes a hit on the clay target in competitive shooting
The archer who scored the best hits the clay target
Some attendants enjoy meeting the horses after yabusame
The video on Yabusame and Kasagake is on view.
The video on yabusame and kasagake events adopted as a 2023 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project (Commission type) is now uploaded on YouTube.
Besides yabusame and kasagake, there is a brief explanation on the most important technique called Tachisukashi.
The annual events of the Japan Equestrian Archery Association are also introduced.
https://youtu.be/ZzXSbXSWqJA
〜Discover YABUSAME〜
Yabusame at Kamakura Ground NO.2
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Gates open at 9:00 (Plan)
9:00 am Cultural exiibits (Noh, Kamakura-bori lacquerware, Kamakura -period food culture, armor, yabusame ）
10:00 am Yabusame ritual
12:15 pm Kasagake demonstration, demonstration by armor-clad archers
12:45 pm Lecture on Noh, hand-led horse-rides for children, feed the horses
13:00 pm Meet-and greet with archers
* The schedule is tentative. Depending on the weather conditions some may be omitted.
(The Ritual will start at 10:00 , the horses will start to run around 10:40).
Year 2023
Enjoy the Kasagake Ritual More Fully ( Concurrent program with Kasagake Ritual)
Sunday、October 15, 2023 Appearance of the horses to the riding ground around 13:00
9:30 Lecture on Kasagake ( ~10:30)
Joint Cultural Display of Kamo Kurabeuma and Kasagake(~16:00)
13:00 Kasagake Ritual
14:55 Special Talk on 930 years old Kamo Kurabeuma, a Rital at Kamigamo Shrine with horses.(~15:25)
15:00Feed the Kasagake participating horses.
15:45 Meet -and -Greet with archers (~16:00)
They are planned programs. Depending on the weather conditions, some may be cancelled.
To watch the performance, a 1000 yen fee is requested. Please come to the reception desk.
Due to limited number of seats, admission may be restricted if capacity is reached.
On the Project to Enhance Visitor Satisfaction at Yabusame and Kasagake Events, a FY 2023 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project（Commission type）
The Project to Enhance Visitor Satisfaction at Yabusame and Kasagake Events of Japan Equestrian Archery Association has being adopted as a FY 2023 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project（Commission type）.
Japan Cultural Expo Projects of Japan Equestrian Archery Association
FY 2023
Adoption plan: Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project (Commission type)
Name of Project:Project to Enhance Visitor Satisfaction at Yabusame and Kasagake Events
Sponsors: Ministry of Culture, Japan Arts Council and Japan Equestrian Archery Association
Vinue:
Yabusame Kamakura Ground, Japan Equestrian Archery Association (Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa)
Kamigamo Shrine (Kyoto-shi, Kyoto)
Date and Hours: Kamakura Yabusame Ground
Sunday, July 16, 2023 10:00 am ~
Saturday, December 2, 2023 10:00 am~ (tentative plan)
Seats will be offered to guests who donate \1,000.
( estimation of 300 seats)
Kamigamo Shrine
Sunday, October 15, 2023 13:00~ (tentative plan)
Paid Seats
Information on Kasagake Ritual at Kamigamo-jinja, the Year 2022 Project of Japan Culture Expo
The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Japan Arts Council and Japan Equestrian Archery Association with the collaboration of Kamigamo-jinja.
Venue: Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, Kyoto
Date and Hours: Sunday, October 16 from 13:00 to 15:00 with live transmission
The URL is https://youtu.be/r0Y3bGThhv8
Kasagake Ritual, a project of Japan Cultural Expo of FY 2022 （1 minute）
https://youtu.be/efvPibUOWhg
Kasagake Ritual, a project of Japan Cultural Expo of FY 2022 （5 minutes）
https://youtu.be/3wZMTx9-CX8
Other programs:
9:30~ Lecture on Kasagake and visit to the riding course (no need to apply, just come to the spot)
15:30~ Meeting with the archers (no need to apply, just come to the spot)
Depending on the progress of the programs, there may be some changes in the time schedule.
The announcement will be given both in Japanese and English to propagate the enchantment of Kasagake in Japan as well as abroad.
Interesting points will be made into a DVD and presented here.
Kasagake is one of the three traditional styles of shooting arrows while riding which is functional and requires more skill. Kasagake of Kamigamo-jinja has the history that 800 years ago, Gotoba jyoko performed Kasagake at the Shrine. Kasagake Ritual is an important traditional culture being the only one in Japan.
→ A scene from Kasageka Practice
The URL is https://youtu.be/r0Y3bGThhv8
On YABUSAME WEBINAR held on Sunday, May 15, 2022
A yabusame archer from the Takeda School who is supported by the Japan Equestrian Archery Association presented at a webinar on yabusame for EngageAsia. EngageAsis is a U.S.-based NPO that introduces Asian culture to school teachers and educators in the United States. The webinar recording is here: https://vimeo.com/712389563 . This webinar is great for beginners as it provides an easy to understand introduction to yabusame. We hope you will watch it.
On Yabusame
Yabusame is a 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 method has been established 800 years ago and is maintained and practiced mainly by the Takeda School of Horseback Archery and Ogasawara School.
Yabusame is a sacred ritual where the archers shoot at three targets to their left from galloping horses. They do not just compete over their martial skills but as they shoot arrows in prayer, it is regarded as of a highly spiritual nature.
Shooting arrows from a galloping horse is called kisha or umayumi. There are three forms of kisha namely yabusame, kasagake, and inu-ou-mono. Among these, yabusame is regarded as special for being a sacred ritual.
Yabusame Riding Course
Highlights of Yabusame
The length of the yabusame riding course 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. Therefore it is very hard 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 be higher today.
The archers in yabusame are called ite, and only those who have undergone strict training can become one.
The ite have mastered the exceptional technique, only existing in Japan, called tachisukashi. Tachisukashi is a form of riding without pressing the horse’s body with the legs and without resting the body on the saddle, keeping the hips away from the saddle by one sheet of paper distance, which is very difficult to master. By this riding style, the body of the ite maintains a stable posture without the up and down movements of the upper body enabling the ite to aim accurately at the targets from the galloping horses.
When you watch a yabusame performance, please feel its dynamic power together with ite’s high shooting technique and refined riding posture.
The Costume of Ite, the Horseback Archers in Yabusame and the Harness
The ite who participate in the yabusame ritual wear hats called kimen ayahigasa, and put on either garment called hitatare or suou. They wear igote on their left shoulder which has the archer’s family crest embroidered in golden thread. Their hips are covered with mukabaki made of summer deerskin. On their waist, the archers wear a tachi, a long sword, and a short sword called maezashi or yoroi doshi and wear gloves, tabi, and foot wear called igutsu. They hold in their hands a bow called shigeto and carry arrows called jindoya inserted at their waist. Metal arrowheads are not used because bloodshed is considered taboo in Shinto rituals.
The saddles used in yabusame are called wagura and waabumi is the name for the stirrups. They are typically Japanese. The manufacturing technique for both of them are no longer available and therefore antique pieces are repaired and used carefully.
The wagura are made of wood and consist of parts such as maewa (pommel) or the arched front plate, shizuwa (cantle) or the arched real plate, igi or the contoured sidebands, and shiode the tie-downs attached to the base of a saddle. The waabumi are made of iron and are rather big as to cover the foot. They are also called zetsuabumi or tongue stirrups as they resemble the shape of a tongue. These stirrups are big and heavy and therefore have stability enabling ite to ride the tachisukashi style
The Costume of Ite
Origin of Yabusame
It is said that the origin of yabusame goes back to the 6th century when Emperor Kinmei ordered to shoot three arrows on horseback called yabasame at Usa , present-day Usa Jingu shrine in Oita Prefecture.
In the Heian Era, Emperor Uda ordered Minamoto no Yoshiari, a master in horseback archery, to fix the ”Rules and Etiquette of Horseback Archery”. These were later passed down through generations of the Minamoto clan, and then to the Takeda and Ogasawara families, who were descendants of Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu.
Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-1199) founder of the Kamakura shogunate sought instruction from Saigyo Hoshi, an expert on yabusame, and held a yabusame ritual in 1187 to commemorate the restoration of peace. He also summoned experts on horseback archery to discuss manners and fix yabusame proceedures and contributed to the flourishing of yabusame.
With the arrival of a turbulent age of warfare yabusame faded from the historical limelight for a time. But in spite of all the rises and falls of different regimes, the teachings have been handed down through the generations and continue to this day.
Shooting Methods of Kisha
There are many forms of shooting in kisha， however the following three forms are mainly used in presentations.
Yundeyoko
This is the style of shooting directly to the left. In yabusame the archer shoots three arrows consecutively directly to the left.
Yundeyoko
Yundesugai
This is the style of shooting at the targets placed on the left side ground level. This style is used in kasagake.
Yundesugai
Metesugai
This is the style of shooting at the targets placed on the right side ground level and is used in kasagake. This is a very difficult technique as the archer with his bow on his left hand must widely twist his body and shift the bow over the horse’s neck to the right side and aim.
Metesugai
* What is kasagake
Kasagake was widely practiced in the Heian and Kamakura periods. The Azuma Kagami, compiled in the Kamakura period, records that Minamoto no Yoritomo and his son Yoriie both enjoyed kasagake with their vassals.
In those days, the samurai were well protected with heavy armor, making it difficult to inflict fatal wounds. Therefore, to defeat an opponent in a single shot, they aimed at the only vulnerable part of the armor、the face. If an opponent looked up or turned his face around, for example, a samurai versed in horseback archery would seize the opportunity and shoot a kill shot into the face. Kasagake was a way to train those skills. Important samurai such as Taira no Masakado, Kiso Yoshinaka and Nitta Yoshisada all died in battle due to arrow wounds to their faces.
* Kasagake Performance
In yabusame, the archer rides the horse in one direction and shoots the arrows at three targets placed on the left side, while in kasagake, the archer rides the horse and shoots while he goes and returns. The targets to aim at on the going are surrounded by bamboo picket fence on both sides, giving the archer only one chance of hitting the target when the archer is on straight angle with the target. The shooting on the return is called ko-kasagake and the targets are smaller and are placed at the right and left sides near the horse’s foot which requires very high shooting skill.
Kasagake
Yabusame Ritual Procedure
Shutsujin (taking to the field):
With the sound of the Gathering Drum the participants assemble and start the march in order.
Kaburaya hoken (dedication of the turnip-headed arrow), ganmon sojo (prayer recitation)
The participants enter the warship hall. Then bugyo or the magistrate presents to the deity a turnip-headed arrow called kaburaya with a metal tip.
Meigen no gi (ritual of sounding the bowstring)
This is a ceremony to drive away evil spirits by sounding the bowstring. This ritual is said to date back to the eleventh century when Minamoto no Yoshiie, a renowned archer, cleared the emperor of his disease by sounding the string on his bow three times.
Tencho chikyu no shiki (ritual to pray for prevailing peace in heaven and on earth)
The rider nominated by the magistrate rides forth to the center and performs gogyo no joho, riding in a circle three times to the left and twice to the right, then draws the bow like the full moon and aiming toward the sky and toward the ground, he prays for universal peace, a rich harvest, and people’s health.
Kogun (procession)
The participants march in formation to the riding ground to the beat of the Marching Drum.
Subase (test run)
The bugyo ascends to the recording station, and the shoyaku take their places as well. When all is ready, the bugyo beats the drum to start the subase, and the archers ride their horses at full gallop through the course without shooting their arrows.
Housha (votive shooting)
Archers are divided, usually into two groups, and they race down the course while quickly fixing each arrow to the bow and shooting successively, starting with the first target. Each group repeats the performance twice.
Kyosha (competitive shooting)
Those who achieved the top results move on to kyosha, or competitive archery.
The targets are changed to small ceramic targets. The target shatters when an arrow hits the mark, sending the confetti flying like snowflakes. The kyosha stage determines which archer achieves the most hits.
Gaijin no shiki (victory ceremony)
The sound of the Ending Drum concludes the kyosha. The archer who made the most hits advances to the center with a target in hand and kneels down. Either the bugyo or the inspector unfolds his fan and observes the target from between the slits. The taikokata beats the Battle Drum three time and the participants respond with a shout of victory. This ritual is also a metaphor for inspecting the exterminated evil spirits.
Naorai (sipping of sacred sake)
The gaijin no shiki is followed by naorai, in which the participants sip sacred sake. Finally, the participants withdraw, marking the end of all ritual proceedings.
Tencho chikyu no shiki
Shoyaku
Yabusame is performed with the help of staff known as shoyaku, who assist with the proceedings in various roles. The shoyaku wear attire called hitatare and serve in six different roles: taikokata, hatamochi, ogikata, matometsuke, heifuri, and yatori.
The taikokata beats the drum as a signal at key moments throughout the ritual.
The hatamochi are flagbearers who lead the procession with red and white flags.
The ogikata wave their fans to signal the start of the horse’s run.
The matometsuke are responsible for judging target hits.
The heifuri signal that a hit has been made by waving their wands, called hei.
The yatori pick up the discharged arrows and return them to the archer.
As seen, there are different roles for shoyaku, and are indispensable for yabusame to be performed. It is an honor to be selected as shoyaku that supports the yabusame.
Shoyaku in procession
Yabusame Videos
The video on Yabusame and Kasagake is on view.
The video on yabusame and kasagake events adopted as a 2023 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project (Commission type) is now uploaded on YouTube.
Besides yabusame and kasagake, there is a brief explanation on the most important technique called Tachisukashi.
The annual events of the Japan Equestrian Archery Association are also introduced.
https://youtu.be/ZzXSbXSWqJA
The Japan Equestrian Archery Association is adopted as a FY 2023 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project.
The Japan Equestrian Archery Association, Japan Arts Council, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan will present Yabusame Ritual at Yabusame Kamakura Ground to pray for peace. a rich harvest, and people’s health, as well as to wish for the promotion and development of various cultural traditions that live on in the city of Kamakura and for the preservation of yabusame and other forms of Japanese horseback archery.
This yabusame will be live streamed so as to transmit the allure of yabusame to those who cannot come to the event. Also, as to facilitate foreigners to watch yabusame, there will be live commentary and reference materials in English.
（The Yabusame Ritual will start at 10:00 am.The horses will start to run around 10:50．）
Information on Kasagake Ritual at Kamigamo-jinja, the Year 2022 Project of Japan Culture Expo
日本博主催・共催型プロジェクト 上賀茂神社笠懸神事
The event is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Japan Arts Council and Japan Equestrian Archery Association with the collaboration of Kamigamo-jinja.
実施日時：令和４年10月16日（日）午後１時～午後３時（ライブ配信）
実施場所：上賀茂神社
動画URL：https://youtu.be/r0Y3bGThhv8
Venue: Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, Kyoto
Date and Hours: Sunday, October 16 from 13:00 to 15:00 with live transmission
The URL is https://youtu.be/r0Y3bGThhv8
On July 17th 2021, “ Ceremony to Wish for the Safe Holding and Success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games “ took place at Meiji Jingu shrine.
This was a special yabusame ceremony conducted to wish for the safe holding and success of the Games. The ceremony took around 2 hours from the beginning to the end. Therefore, 6 minutes and 1 minute documentary videos were made, focusing on the main points and interesting scenes as the ceremony proceeded.
令和３年７月17日（土）に行った「東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会 安全祈願奉納流鏑馬」の主要なポイントを押さえ、流鏑馬の流れや見所なども加えて6分版と1分版の記録映像を制作しました。是非ご覧ください。
・東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会 安全祈願奉納流鏑馬（日本語 Japanese・6分）
https://youtu.be/yVhBEixDBGw
・東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会 安全祈願奉納流鏑馬（日本語 Japanese・1分）
https://youtu.be/dePsjgvyZA0
・Yabusame Ceremony to Wish for the Safe Holding of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games（English 6 min.)
https://youtu.be/Qh0Os2PEoWw
・Yabusame Ceremony to Wish for the Safe Holding of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games(English 1min.)
https://youtu.be/MjhzCqihMxw
Yabusame Ceremony to Wish for the Safe Holding and Success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games【Saturday 17 July 2021 17:00～】
東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会 安全祈願奉納流鏑馬【令和３年７月17日（土）午後５時00分から午後７時30分～】
Due to the Covid -19 prevention, the performance is closed to the public.
Please watch the live broadcasting,
東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会の安全と成功を祈願する流鏑馬を明治神宮奉納いたしました。
感染症対策のため、一般観覧はできませんが、ライブ配信を行いました。
令和2年度日本博主催・共催型プロジェクト「世界平和・健康祈願流鏑馬」の最後の成果物である流鏑馬のプロモーション映像が完成しました。
本作は最新の8K規格にて撮影・制作されたものですが、ウェブ上で公開するためダウンサイジングしております。
それでも超高画質なので、できるだけ大画面で御視聴いただくとよりお楽しみいただけます。
‘Yabusame Praying for World Peace and People’s Health’
a Japan Cultural Expo Project Presented and Co-presented for year 2020 .
November 29th, 2020
#1 Horseback Archery
Presentation of the dynamic performance of horseback archery, of the horseback archers’ skill and history of yabusame and others.
#2 Costumes and Equipment
Presentation of archers’ costumes, harness and archery equipment in yabusame.
#3 Sacred Ritual
Presentation of each ceremony of yabusame and of shoyaku, those who assist the yabusame performance.
