Toshiya (通し矢) at Sanjusangendo


5th February 2010


Every year in January, an unusual archery competition is held on the grounds of Sanjusangendo, a temple in the south of Kyoto.

The current form of the Toshiya contest is in its 60th year but it dates back to 1609, when archers competed at one end of the temple’s western veranda to send as many arrows as they could into the target 118m away. They shot for 24 hours from six o’clock in the evening, taking a quick break after every 500 arrows. The current record was set in 1686 by a man called Wasa Daihachiro. He fired 13,053 arrows of which 8,133 hit the target.

Today’s competition is held beside the famous veranda and the morning section is for archers who turned 20 in the past year and have achieved at least the level of shodan – the first rung of a 10-step ladder.





Putting on the shooting glove before the contest starts. The thumb is pressed lightly to the first two fingers while the strap is adjusted.






The average Japanese bow used today is 2.2m long. Without a wall or floor bracket, it takes two people to string it: one to hold the tip and the other to loop the string around the other end.




Two arrows are usually fired in one round for kyudo, or traditional Japanese archery.




Waiting to enter the shooting area. Ideally, the bow and arrows extend behind the archer at the same level - rather like unfurling wings.





The moment of full draw. In the background, the veranda where the original Toshiya competition took place.





While most of the male participants wear the practice gear of white gi and black hakama (wide, pleated trousers), some opt for kimono. Men shooting in kimono have to remove their left arm from the sleeve first. In winter, this is not fun.















The first arrow is shot while holding the second at a prescribed angle. It's harder than it looks.





The last of the male entrants with the first of the female competitors waiting behind.





Reason Why People Prefer To Photograph The Girls No.1
















Reason Why People Prefer To Photograph The Girls No.2




In a break from the regular gi and hakama, young female participants wear furisode - colourful kimono with sleeves draping down to the feet. The sleeves have to be tied back with a strip of cloth - tasuki - before the archer can shoot.




And after it's all over...

Let's settle this like men


1st February 2010


Another frozen day at the dojo: stiff shoulders, numb hands and breath puffing out white.

But around 7pm, two cheesecakes appeared. They were ceremoniously sliced and everyone was invited to help themselves.

There was a catch though: you couldn't just take a slice from one of the cakes; you had to eat both.

Two boys from the dojo had each baked a cake and after eating, you had to say which you thought was better.

This is the Way of the Warrior - sometimes, you face down your opponent with a sword. Sometimes, with a bow. And sometimes, with cream cheese, double cream, sugar, crushed biscuits and yoghurt.

Of course, some would say that the only opponent you face is yourself but the main thing is to keep the cake coming.

Fura-fura


12th February 2008


I haven't been to the dojo for a month because I've been ill with one thing or another so I decided to make the effort to train today. I wasn't exactly feeling well this afternoon - feverish and a dodgy throat - but I was feeling better. And kyudo isn't exactly an aerobic martial art. Should be fine, I thought.

It turned out to be not such a great idea. Just firing two shots pushed the world into slow spin. Fura-fura, the Japanese call it - dizzywizzywhirlyswirly.

But it's Kawaguchi-sensei's birthday this Sunday and there was a presentation of a bouquet of flowers - all the students lined up in two rows, sitting with their feet under them in the formal seiza position - and a small party.

Various people contributed snacks and Murata-san bought a large box of doughnuts (he went round collecting 200 yen for them and the flowers; I hope he got all his money back).

Apparently, he ended up buying the doughnuts because he'd lost to Sakai-san in a match on Sunday. If she'd lost, she'd have been the one to make the trip to Mister Donut.

'I lost by one arrow,' said Murata-san. He drew himself up. 'But it's okay. I don't mind.'

It was a good idea to go to the dojo today, after all.