Kamigamo Jinja Kasagake Ritual

Participation in Expo 2025
Osaka, Kansai, Japan

Prior to the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, a special yabusame and kasagake ceremony was performed a total of four times at the Matsuri Expo Arena within the Expo venue over two days, April 5 and 6, 2025, to pray for the safe holding and success of the Osaka Kansai Expo. Conducted as a precursor to the events to be held at the Osaka Kansai Expo, the occasion was a great success. A total of approximately 12,000 spectators attended during the two days. The third performance (which started at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, 2025) was prefaced with a ceremony officiated by priests of Kamo Wakeikazuchi Jinja (Kamigamo Shrine) to pray for the safe holding and success of the Expo.

About kasagake

Kasagake is a martial arts discipline practiced by mounted warriors in the Heian and Kamakura periods. Archers ride a galloping horse and shoot at targets placed at ground level and in other places. Kasagake was originally developed as a way to practice aiming accurately at the vulnerable points of opponents clad in sturdy armor. Meanwhile, the kasagake event at Kamigamo Jinja shrine is performed as a Shinto ritual to pray for peace and happiness in the world.

Today, kasagake is rarely practiced due to its exceeding difficulty. A must-see, in particular, is the shooting technique of drawing the bow, which is held in the left hand, on the right side over the horse’s neck. Moreover, Kamigamo Jinja is the only place where you can see kasagake being performed as a Shinto ritual. We invite you to participate in this rare opportunity.

Time scheduleJapan time

9:30 am	Start of practice session
10:40 am	End of practice session
12:20 pm	Shutsujin (setting out)
12:25 pm	Purification rite at Tsuchinoya
12:30 pm	Shinto ritual in the main shrine
1:00 pm	Entering the riding ground (start of live stream)
1:10 pm	Tencho chikyu no shiki (ritual for prevailing peace) (a mounted archer prays for universal peace, a rich harvest, and people’s health while drawing a bow to the sky and to the ground)
1:20 pm	Yashiroburi no shiki (ritual to determine the riding order)
1:30 pm	Starting drum (start of equestrian activities) ● Subase (test run): Archers ride their horses at full gallop through the course without shooting their arrows (one round) ● Hosha (votive shooting): Archers shoot arrows in dedication to the deities while racing down the course and back (two rounds) ● Kyosha (competitive shooting): Those who achieved top results in hosha shoot arrows while racing down the course and back, competing for the most hits (one or two rounds)
2:40 pm	Ending drum (end of equestrian activities)
2:45 pm	Gaijin no shiki (victory ceremony): The achievements of the archer who performed best are inspected (the ritual is also a metaphor for inspecting the exterminated evil spirits)
3:10 pm	Meet-and-greet with the archers
“Enjoying the Kasagake Ritual More Fully”	Special programs including: - Comparative display of Kamo Kurabeuma and kasagake (10:00 am - 3:40 pm) - Meet-and-greet with the archers (3:10 pm - 3:40 pm) - Feeding the horses that took part in kasagake (3:10 pm - 3:40 pm)

* Consecutive English interpretation will be offered.
* All seats are roofed as part of the FY 2025 Japan Cultural Expo 2.0 Project “Enjoying the Kasagake Ritual More Fully.”
* To view, please pay the admission fee set by Kamigamo Jinja at the entrance to the seating area.
* Reservations are not available.
* Due to limited space, admission may be restricted if capacity is reached.
* The above schedule is tentative and subject to change. Part of the program may be omitted depending on the weather.

YouTube live streaming

The event will be livestreamed on the Japan Equestrian Archery Association’s YouTube channel on the day of the event. Enjoy the event on YouTube even if you cannot visit the event venue. (Scheduled to start at 1:00 pm)

Highlights

Tachisukashi

Tachisukashi is a technique unique to the equestrian art (horsemanship) of Japan, enabling the archer to accurately aim at targets from a galloping horse.
Archers ride horses by stepping down hard on the stirrups and keeping their hips a paper-thin distance above the saddle, without pressing against the horses’ body with their legs.
This is the ultimate technique for maintaining a stable posture without the up-and-down movements from the galloping horse.

Shooting method

Three shooting techniques are showcased at the kasagake event.
(1)Yundeyoko
Technique of shooting horizontally at a target to the left.
(2)Yundesugai
Technique of shooting downward at a target placed on the lower left.
(3)Metesugai (left photo)
Technique of shooting downward at a lower right target. This is a very difficult technique that involves greatly twisting the body to the right and aiming the bow in the left hand toward the right over the horse’s neck.

Directions

Kamo Wakeikazuchi Jinja shrine (Kamigamo Jinja) 339 Kamigamo-motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 603-8047

● By bus:
• Short walk from Kamigamo Jinja-mae bus stop
• 5-minute walk from Kamigamo Misonobashi bus stop
• 3-minute walk from Misonoguchicho bus stop

● By train:
• 25-minute walk from Kitaoji Station
• 25-minute walk from Kitayama Station

*Please use public transportation, as roads around the venue will be crowded.

Inquiries

Our goals are to promote and develop the Japanese horseback archery that originated in the Kamakura period, contribute to the advancement of Japan’s traditional culture through practical education in classical equestrian arts, and foster international goodwill through equestrian culture.

* For questions and inquiries about the event, please do not contact Kamigamo Jinja but direct them to the following association.

Name of organization	The Japan Equestrian Archery Association
Address	20-43 Onarimachi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa, 248-0012
Email	post-kyuubakai @yabusame.or.jp

Participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan