Discover the Power, Skill, and Spirit of Yabusame: Traditional Japanese Horseback Archery in Kyoto and Kamakura

Kasagake, like yabusame, is a traditional Japanese form of horseback archery.
In yabusame, archers shoot at targets positioned directly to their left as they ride forward.
Kasagake also involves aiming at lower targets on both sides, making it more combat-oriented and requiring greater technical skill.
At Kamigamo Jinja, you can see yundeyoko, shooting directly to the left on the outward run, followed on the return run by yundesugai, aiming down to the left, and metesugai, aiming down to the right.

Metesugai, in particular, is characteristic of kasagake: the archer extends the left hand holding the bow far across the horse’s neck to aim at a target on the right.
Watching the different target positions and the archers’ swift twists as they ready their bows gives you a clear sense of why kasagake is considered a more combat-oriented form of horseback archery.

Watch the video to see how archers release arrows from galloping horses and follow the sequence of movements leading up to a successful shot.
The footage reveals the distinctive features of yabusame and kasagake, the speed of the horses, and the archers’ skill.

After watching the ritual, those who have registered in advance will have the opportunity to try holding a bow themselves and discover the challenges of kasagake.
At the 2026 Kasagake Ritual, preregistered participants will be able to watch the ritual from prime seats with expert commentary, before taking part in a hands-on program on the actual riding course.
Seated on a wooden training horse, participants will aim at real targets used in the ritual.
Experiencing the difficulty of shooting at a lower target will help you appreciate the extraordinary skill of the archers you have just watched performing from galloping horses.
No advance registration is required to take part in the regular activities after the ritual, such as meeting the archers and interacting with the horses, which offer a closer connection to the tradition.
Taking the step from watching to participating will deepen your understanding of kasagake.

Horses thunder past as the archers on their backs ready their bows.
Unlike a ritual performance, practice offers the distinctive intensity of a place where skills are being refined-one of the attractions of visiting the Yabusame Kamakura Ground.
One technique to watch for is tachisukashi.
This important skill in traditional Japanese horsemanship allows riders to maintain a steady posture without their bodies bouncing up and down.
Immediately after shooting at a target, archers perform yatsugae: taking the next arrow from the waist, nocking it on the bowstring, and readying the bow again.
Watching archers repeat these movements while their horses gallop gives you an appreciation of both the spectacle of yabusame and the skill it demands.
While rituals showcase polished techniques, practice offers a close view of archers working with their horses and refining each movement.
Being close enough to hear the horses galloping past and the archers breathing is another distinctive part of watching a practice session.

At the Yabusame Kamakura Ground, activities are also planned to bring visitors closer to the world of yabusame beyond simply watching practice.
Because performing yabusame on a real horse involves risks, visitors will not take part in an actual mounted yabusame experience.
Instead, planned activities include shooting at targets from a wooden training horse and a simulated experience using footage filmed by an archer on horseback.
In the footage, there are only about four seconds between one target and the next.
In that brief interval, an archer must pull an arrow from the waist, nock it on the bowstring, and aim at the target.
Trying this sequence, which even archers find challenging, helps you appreciate firsthand the skill and difficulty involved in yabusame.
Opportunities to meet the archers and feed the horses are also planned, offering insights into yabusame that you cannot gain simply by watching.