Crowds of spectators were able to attend a representation of traditional Japanese archery on horseback, known as “Yabusame”, in a Shinto sanctuary of the city of Kamakura, near Tokyo.
The ritual of the Yabusame took place Tuesday in Tsurugaka Hachimangu. This event usually took place on September 16, during the annual sanctuary festival. However, it was canceled last year due to a horse accident during training.
The event was said to have been launched by Minamoto No Yoritomo, who founded the Kamakura Shogunat at the end of the 12th century, to pray for peace.
Archers dressed in samurai costumes fired an arrow after the other on three targets while galloping for about 250 meters.
The spectators applauded when the arrows reached the targets of about 50 square centimeters.
A man in his sixties from the Nagano department said that it was breathtaking, closely, and that he was impressed by the skills of the archers.
Another man in his sixties, from Yokohama, said he was impressed by performance and added that training should be quite demanding.
