Asakusa Yabusame at Sumida Park
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During the Edo Period (1603-1868) the samurai practiced horseback archery as a way to hone their endurance and battle skills, and tutoring talented pupils was considered a great honor, as well as being evidence of their rank and reputation
The tradition is still alive, at least in Tokyo’s Asakusa district where on April 18 visitors will be entertained by a display of the mental strength and religious devotion of a number of archers who, while galloping past on horseback, will each shoot three arrows at wooden targets placed at about 70 meters apart.
This Yabusame archery show will also be accompanied by a Kusajishi hunting tournament, where archers will aim their arrows at grass deer-shaped targets along the stretch between the Denpoin, a parent temple of Sensoji in Asakusa and Sumida Park.
English commentary will be available in designated seated areas of the shows. (Magdalena Osumi)