(information below is credited to wikipedia.org)
Yabusame was designed as a way to please and entertain the myriad of gods that watch over Japan, thus encouraging their blessings for the prosperity of the land, the people, and the harvest.
A yabusame archer gallops down a 255-meter-long track at high speed. The archer mainly controls his horse with his knees, as he needs both hands to draw and shoot his bow.
(look behind the horse track and you can see how fast it went)
As he approaches a target, he brings his bow up and draws the arrow past his ear before letting the arrow fly with a deep shout of In-Yo-In-Yo (darkness and light). The arrow is blunt and round-shaped in order to make a louder sound when it strikes the board.
To hit all three targets is considered an admirable accomplishment. Yabusame targets and their placement are designed to ritually replicate the optimum target for a lethal blow on an opponent wearing full traditional samurai armor (O-Yoroi) which left the space just beneath the helmet visor bare.
Many archers at the event missed it, especially the last one where I was at.
Yabusame is characterized as a ritual rather than a sport because of its solemn style and religious aspects, and is often performed for special ceremonies or official events, such as entertaining foreign dignitaries and heads of state.
To be selected as a yabusame archer is a great honor. In the past, they were chosen from only the best warriors. The archer who performs the best is awarded a white cloth, signifying divine favor.
Zen became a major element in both foot and mounted archery as it also became popular among the samurai in every aspect of their life during the Kamakura Period. Yabusame as a martial art helped a samurai learn concentration, discipline, and refinement. Zen taught breathing techniques to stabilize the mind and body, giving clarity and focus. To be able to calmly draw one's bow, aim, and shoot in the heat of battle, and then repeat, was the mark of a true samurai who had mastered his training and his fear.
I actually think we needed to practice calming down watching the event too since it was such a long wait and it was HOT when we went. The event was supposed to start at 1 o'clock, but they didn't really start shooting until maybe nearly 3 o'clock. It was very crowded (you can see from the pictures)
The one being performed in Shimogamo represents the ritual ceremony from Heian Period in which archers were dressed in ceremonial costumes and performed as a noble hobby.
There were 4 batches of archers. 5 in a group. A total of 20. Only a few hit all three targets. Most of them missed the last one, either couldn't bring up the bow and set the arrow in time, lost control of the horse, or just simply missed it on the shot.
I could only reach nearly the front line where I could take photos without hands of others toward the last few archers. Lucky enough, there was one archer who hit the target and I happened to be able to press the shutter at the right moment. So here we go, how it looks like the moment the arrow hit the target!
