The Yabusame Ritual at Meiji Jingu is held on November 3

The Japan Equestrian Archery Association will hold a traditional equestrian archery show or yabusame at Meiji Jingu, Shibuya District, Tokyo, on Monday, November 3 2025. This activity combines horse riding skills with the ability to archery while moving. This event has a long history because it was first held in 1932, before it was stopped due to World War II and resumed in 1953. Yabusame Track in the Middle of the Forest
This performance takes place on the horse track in the western part of the open area of the Meiji Jingu shrine complex. The area is surrounded by dense forests and pine trees, providing a natural atmosphere for participants and spectators. The sight of archers shooting out from between the trees, then disappearing back into the forest, was one of the highlights of the event. The track used is approximately 218 meters long, according to the official dimensions mentioned in the source. This distance is a challenge in itself because participants have to control a fast-running horse while carrying out archery tasks. You can see the combination of horsemanship, aiming accuracy and movement coordination in this series of activities. The series of events is scheduled to start at 13.00 local time by entering the equestrian arena. Ten minutes later, participants perform Tencho chikyu no shiki, a ritual that includes prayers for world peace, abundant harvests and public health. In the procession, an archer on horseback aims his bow at the sky and the ground as part of the ritual. Performance and Competition Stages
Horse riding activities begin at 13.15 after the sound of the opening drums. The first stage is subase, namely a test round of the track when the archer rides the horse at full speed without releasing an arrow. This stage lasts one round. Next, participants perform the hosha or offering shooting. In this session, the archer releases arrows as an offering to the gods for a total of four rounds. After that, kyosha brings together participants who achieved the best results in the hosha stage to compete for the highest number of targets hit. The competition lasts between one and three rounds. All horse riding activities are scheduled to end at 14.50, marked by the sound of the closing drums. Five minutes later, the event continued with Gaijin no shiki or victory ceremony. In the procession, the achievements of the archer with the best performance are checked. This ritual is also a symbol of examining evil spirits that have been destroyed. At 15.10, visitors had the opportunity to take part in a meeting session with the archers. Information regarding entry fees, registration mechanisms and special conditions for visitors has not been explained by the source. Getting to know Yabusame
Yabusame is a traditional Japanese art of horseback archery that combines the ability to control a horse with the skill of releasing an arrow. In practice, the archer had to maintain balance on a moving horse while aiming at the target. This sport requires coordination between the rider, horse, and archery movements. Horse speed and track conditions also pose challenges for participants. At events at Meiji Jingu, yabusame is also present as part of a series of rituals containing prayers and ceremonial processions. Through this activity on November 3, visitors can witness a combination of traditions, horse riding skills and Japanese archery in one series of events. The sequence of activities from the opening ritual to the victory ceremony shows that yabusame not only displays sporting ability, but also has a strong ceremonial element. Source: Japan Today, 27 October 2025