The Revival of the Samurai Archery "Yabusame" in Tokyo: A Centuries-Old Samurai Ritual Brought Back by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune
Do you know about "Yabusame"? "Yabusame" is a traditional form of samurai archery. It is a ritual and competition performed by samurai, in which a rider shoots at targets with a kabura arrow while galloping on horseback. The Nihon Shoki, completed in 720, records that Emperor Tenmu held and observed a "Yabusame" event at Nagara Shrine, demonstrating that "Yabusame" has been a samurai ritual and sport for centuries. It was particularly popular among samurai during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), though it declined in the Edo period (1603-1868), when times of war became scarce.
It was the 8th Shogun of the Edo Shogunate, Tokugawa Yoshimune, who revived "Yabusame." In 1728, Yoshimune held a "Yabusame" ritual at Takatanobaba’s Ana Hachiman Shrine to pray for his son’s recovery from smallpox. The area, called "Baba," was a training ground for horse riding. In 1738, the "Yabusame" event was held again to celebrate the birth of Tokugawa Ieharu, the future 10th shogun. From then on, "Yabusame" became a ritual offering at Ana Hachiman Shrine during auspicious occasions like the birth of the shogun's children.
Takatanobaba, once a training ground for the shogunate’s archery and horsemanship, is depicted in Utagawa Hiroshige's ukiyo-e series, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. While the modern Takadanobaba area in Tokyo has no relation to the historical site, there was another "Baba" near Kagurazaka, where our company hosts traditional cultural tours.
Experience the Thrill of Yabusame: Samurai Archery Revived Amidst the Skyscrapers of Shinjuku
The historic "Yabusame" ceremony will be held again on October 14, 2024, at Toyama Park in Shinjuku. This event is part of the Ana Hachiman Shrine "Yabusame" ritual, which dates back to the era of Tokugawa Yoshimune. It is registered as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Shinjuku City.
Watching "Yabusame" up close was exhilarating. As seen in videos, the horses race at incredible speed, and the sound of arrows hitting their targets, combined with the crowd’s excitement, was awe-inspiring.
Recently, during one of our Kagurazaka walking tours, an Australian tourist asked, "Are there still samurai in Japan?" Of course, there are no samurai today, but watching "Yabusame" felt like witnessing a scene from the samurai era. It made me think, "Perhaps samurai still exist." "Yabusame" is a spectacle that brings the samurai spirit to life, and I highly recommend it to foreign visitors who are fascinated by samurai. Watching "Yabusame" in the heart of Shinjuku, with its towering skyscrapers, is a truly unique experience, showcasing Shinjuku’s blend of modernity and tradition.
Explore Samurai History and Traditional Arts: Authentic Traditional Cultural Experiences in Tokyo
Like "Yabusame," the traditional cultural experiences we offer in Shinjuku are steeped in history. One of our tours visits the Kigumi (Wooden Architecture) Museum, located next to Ana Hachiman Shrine, where "Yabusame" takes place. Our tours allow participants to feel and learn about the history of the samurai era. These special experiences have only been available since April 2024 and are still relatively unknown.
So far, all participants in our tours have given us perfect feedback. Many travelers have said it was "the best experience of their trip to Japan" and that it will be "a memory they’ll never forget." Leaving Japan without experiencing these traditional cultural experiences would truly be a missed opportunity. Don’t miss out on this chance!
Following "Yabusame," on Saturday, October 19, the "Kagurazaka Odori," a local cultural property of Shinjuku, will be held. This is a rare opportunity to see all the Kagurazaka geisha performing traditional arts such as Japanese dance, Tokiwazu, Kiyomoto, Nagauta, and Narimono. It’s an event not to be missed at Kagurazaka Theater (Ushigome Tansu Kumin Hall).
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How to Access Kagurazaka
The Kagurazaka area is conveniently located within 30 minutes from any major station in Tokyo. This is because Kagurazaka is situated in the heart of Tokyo, at the center of the Yamanote Line. Please come and visit this convenient and charming Kagurazaka.
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