Samurai Sport Still Popular After 800 Years

KAMAKURA, Japan, May 13, 2010 — -- Mounted on galloping horses, archers race full speed down a narrow dirt path.

The skilled professionals take aim with their bow and arrows to hit three consecutive targets – all within less than 15 seconds.

This form of Japanese mounted archery, or Yabusame, dates back over 800 years – to when samurai would have bow and arrow duels on horseback.

It is an hour-long train ride from the bustling city of Tokyo to Kamakura, the ancient city of the samurai.

Japanese drums sound off in the distance, cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and archers warm up for the day's event.

Legend has it that Yabusame originated "at the beginning of the Kamakura period, the end of the 12th century," the event emcee announced. Minamoto Yoritomo, "the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate became alarmed at the lack of archery skills his samurai had."

Minamoto, as top military commander, promptly organized Yabusame as a practice drill for duels.

Other forms of mounted archery were also disciplined. Kasagake uses different types of targets and, unlike Yabusame where they are all stationed on the left side of the track, targets are placed on both the left and right. Inuoumono, though no longer practiced, was another archery martial art that used dogs for moving targets.

Today Yabusame skills are taught in Japan at specialized schools and ceremonies are held as rituals.

"To be selected as a Yabusame archer," the event emcee said, was "a great honor as well as a cherished opportunity to demonstrate one's skill to other samurai."

This afternoon archers from the Takeda School of Horseback Archery exhibit their artistry.