[Time Travel in Kanagawa] Autumn Traditional Performing Arts 2023 Yabusame
Yabusame is a martial art that has been passed down to the present day, in which a bow is shot at a target from atop a galloping horse. Spectators are enthralled by the magnificent and heroic performance that combines the art of riding a horse with the art of traditional Japanese archery. Here we will introduce three examples of Yabusame in Kanagawa Prefecture that are also noteworthy as religious ceremonies.
The Yabusame ritual at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine has continued since the Kamakura period
On September 16, 2023, the traditional "Yabusame Ritual" of the autumn festival was held for the first time in four years at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, located in the heart of the ancient capital of Kamakura.
For samurai, the skill of shooting a bow while riding a horse at full speed was essential. During the Kamakura period, Minamoto no Yoritomo recommended training in the martial art of yabusame, and mounted archery (kisha) was established as a formal art for the samurai class. Furthermore, it is said that praying for peace and prosperity in the world and the nation at a major annual event allowed samurai retainers to demonstrate their archery and horseback riding skills in front of the shrine and large crowds, which strengthened the samurai's spiritual strength and faith.
An essential part of the annual Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Festival, which is held over three days starting on September 14th every year, is the Yabusame ritual on the final day. Dressed in hunting attire reminiscent of Kamakura samurai, the head of the Ogasawara School of Equestrian Archery and Archery, which has an 800-year-old tradition, performs the ritual in front of spectators.
The riding ground is approximately 250 meters long, and three 55cm square cedar board targets are set up between 1.8m tall green bamboo poles. The powerful breathing of the horses as they gallop briskly across the riding ground, and the skill of the archers as they hit the three targets with beautiful movements in accordance with the traditional Ogasawara style are must-sees.
[Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine Yabusame Ritual]
Date and time: Saturday, September 16, 2023, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM *Finished
Venue: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (precincts) [2-1-31 Yukinoshita, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Website here
Yabusame Ritual at Samukawa Shrine: Praying for peace and prosperity
An archer in beautiful hunting attire and with a bow and arrow in hand is riding a horse at a normal trot.
A yabusame ritual was also held at Samukawa Shrine, the only shrine in Japan to ward off evil spirits and known as the Ichinomiya of Sagami Province. This article introduces the yabusame ritual, which was held on September 19, 2023, the day before the annual festival, to pray for peace and prosperity.
Samukawa Shrine is a 5-minute walk from Miyayama Station on the JR Sagami Line, located between Ebina and Chigasaki, near the Sagami River.
Source: Samukawa Shrine - YouTube Channel [Samukawa Shrine] Samukawa Shrine from the sky in 2023
Yabusame, which is performed as an offering or prayer to the gods, consists of a series of steps: ritual, horse archery, ritual. First, the mind and body of those participating in the ritual are purified, followed by the horse arena where the horse archery will take place.
In preparation for the horse archery event, a Shinto priest walks around purifying the riding ground.
This also has a long history, with records showing it was performed as early as the Kamakura period. It was passed down for generations by a family called "Madayu," who was in charge of the yabusame ritual, but it is now dedicated by the Takeda school's Dai-Nippon Kyuma-Kai, a public interest incorporated association. The priests themselves serve as archers.
An archer and horse walking in the riding arena prior to mounted archery.
It is not only a spectacular and heroic event, but also a tranquil one. The most important thing is that the archer shoots the arrow at the target, rather than hitting the target.
The archer shoots at a target placed to the left of the horse while galloping.
[Samukawa Shrine Yabusame Ritual]
Date and time: Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 14:00 *Ended
Venue: Samukawa Shrine (the riding ground west of the main hall) [3916 Miyayama, Samukawa-cho, Koza-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture]
・Website here
You still have time! Yabusame in November
On November 3, 2023, at the annual festival of Muro Shrine in Yamakita Town, the "Muro Shrine Yabusame," an intangible folk cultural property designated by Kanagawa Prefecture, will be held.
The origin of the name is said to be from the story ("Shinpen Sagami no Kuni Fudokigo" and "Azuma Kagami") that when Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army at Ishibashiyama, Kawamura Yoshihide, who had his territory confiscated and was about to be executed by beheading for siding with the Taira clan, was spared the punishment thanks to his superb yabusame (horseback archery) skills in Kamakura, and was thus able to return to his former territory.
The Yabusame of Muro Shrine is said to have been held for over 800 years. Why not come and experience the history for yourself at the venue?
[Muro Shrine Yabusame]
・Date and time: November 3, 2023 (Friday/Holiday)
14:00~Running in the riding arena, 14:20~Yabusame start ceremony, 14:30~Entering the riding arena ceremony,
14:50~ Ablution Ceremony, 15:00~ Yabusame Opening Ceremony
Venue: Muro Shrine (1200 Yamakita, Yamakita-cho, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture)
・Website here
Text by Mai Shimura (editor/writer)
