Asakusa Yabusame

Every April the Asakusa Yabusame event is held in Sumida Park on a special course, about 2 meters wide and about 300 meters long covered in white sand, on which specially trained horses run. The Yabusame archers follow the etiquette of the Kamakura Period and are followers of the Ogasawara style of archery and horseback archery. Shouts of ”Inyo-i” ring out in the quiet of the course as the special horses gallop forward. The riders try to hit three square targets, each about 54 cm in size, and when they hit the bullseye there is an explosion of white confetti.

Elsewhere, before the holding of the Yabusame event, the Kusajishi, a traditional event from ancient times for the training of Yabusame horses, is held at Sanyabori Square (Asakusa 7-chome) in Sumida Park. Kusajishi are targets in the shape of deer about 110 cm tall and about 20 meters away used for archery practice.

*For details and schedule, please check the latest information on the official website.