Yabusame — traditional archer on horseback — started in the Kamakura Period (1185–1333) as a way to appease the gods for prosperity and hone the Zen-like focus of samurai warriors.
The eventual arrival of firearms eventually to the decline of archery as a military necessity, though reenactments are currently staged around the country at various times of the year, most famously at shrines in Kamakura and Kyoto.
For the 34th annual Asakusa Yabusame, 20 archers assembled in Tokyo’s Sumida Park on Saturday noon to show their sharpshooting skills.
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