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66-754: Along with the Nagaragawa Convention Center , the Nagaragawa Sports Plaza and Mirai Hall , it is part of the World Event and Convention Complex Gifu . The Memorial Center is an athletic park run by Gifu Prefecture and is located on the north bank of the Nagara River . Its site was originally developed for the National Sports Festival that was held in Gifu in 1965. The site also includes

132-439: A bow without an arrow to learn handling of the bow and performing hassetsu until full draw. Handling and maintenance of the equipment is also part of the training. After given permission by the teacher beginners start practicing with the glove and arrow. Next steps may vary from teacher to teacher, but include practising first yugamae (弓構え), then the draw and last release and shooting at makiwara . A beginner starting to shoot at

198-403: A competitive style. These tournaments often involve kyūdō practitioners from all ranks and grades, including high school, college and adult participants. Competition is usually held with a great deal more ceremony than the standard dōjō practice. In addition to the hassetsu , the archer must also perform an elaborate entering procedure whereby the archer will join up to four other archers to enter

264-463: A distance of twenty-eight metres. For competitions and examinations, kasumi mato (霞的) is used. For ceremonies it is most common to use hoshi mato which is the same as kasumi mato but with different markings. Omato is the mato used for long distance enteki (遠的) shooting at 60 m distance. The diameter of omato is 158 cm. There are separate competitions also for enteki shooting. There are three levels of skill: The Yumi ( 弓 , lit.

330-453: A glove on the right hand, called a Yugake ( 弽 , lit. "Yumi gloves " ) . There are many varieties of yugake ; they are typically made of deerskin. Practitioners can choose between a hard glove (with a hardened thumb) or a soft glove (without a hardened thumb); each has its advantages. With a hard glove, the thumb area is not very flexible and has a pre-made groove used to pull the string ( Tsuru ( 弦 , lit. " Yumi bowstring " ) ). With

396-591: A gymnasium; as well as the city-supported Green Space (芝生広場 Shibafu Hiroba ). To the north of the complex is the Youth Play Area (幼児児童広場 Yōji Jidō Hiroba ), which includes a replica of a dinosaur skeleton. The most recognizable features of the Memorial Center are its two domes, the larger Deai Dome (で愛ドーム Deai Dōmu ) and the smaller Fureai Dome (ふれ愛ドーム Fureai Dōmu ). Though the Deai Dome's capacity (4,500 people)

462-561: A natural grass field. Since 1992, the track has served as the start and finish line for the All Japan Businesswomen Ekiden , in addition to various other track events. The inner pitch can be used for rugby, soccer and field hockey. Until 2001, it served as the home pitch for the Nagoya Grampus Eight and, currently, it is used as the home pitch for F.C. Gifu , which entered the J. League in 2008. This track and field

528-401: A soft glove, the thumb area is very flexible and is without a pre-made groove, allowing the practitioners to create their own, based on their own shooting habits. Typically a yugake will be of the three- or four-finger variety. The three fingered version is called a mitsugake (三つ弽), and the four-fingered version is called a yotsugake (四つ弽). Typically the primary reason an archer may choose

594-520: A stronger glove like the yotsugake is to assist in pulling heavier bows (18–20 kg (40–44 lb) and above). The three-fingered glove is generally used with bows with a pull below 20 kg (44 lb) of draw weight , while the four fingered yotsugake are used with bows with a pull above 20 kg (44 lb). This is only a generalization and many schools differ on which glove to use for their bows and glove use often varies from archer to archer and school to school. The practical reasoning for

660-598: A weapon of war began its gradual decline after the Portuguese arrived in Japan in 1543 bringing firearms with them in the form of the matchlock . The Japanese soon started to manufacture their own version of the matchlock called tanegashima and eventually it and the yari (spear) became the weapons of choice. However, because tanegashima took a long time to load, were inconvenient in rainy weather when damp gunpowder would not fire, and were not exactly subtle in terms of noise,

726-406: A wooden floor and a high ceiling, a position for practice targets (called makiwara ; 巻藁), and a large open wall with sliding doors, which, when opened, overlooks an open grassy area and a separate building, the matoba (的場), which houses a sand hillock and the targets, placed 28 metres from the dōjō floor. Kyūdō is practiced in different schools and styles, and even between dōjō of the same style,

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792-465: Is a multi-purpose convention center in the city of Gifu , Gifu Prefecture , Japan . The name literally translates to Nagara River International Convention Center , but the official English translation drops "international." Along with the Gifu Memorial Center , the Nagaragawa Sports Plaza and Mirai Hall , it is part of the World Event and Convention Complex Gifu . The convention center

858-516: Is affiliated closely with Shambhala Buddhism and was founded in the United States in the 1980s by Kanjuro Shibata XX. It has groups practicing in the United States and a group in Canada. Kyūdō dōjō (training halls, aka "kyūdōjō") vary in style and design from school to school, and from country to country. In Japan, most dōjō have roughly the same layout; an entrance, a large dōjō area, typically with

924-428: Is applied to the thumb and holding finger to assist in the grip during the pull. The extra finger allows for a stronger hold on the thumb, as it is then placed on the third finger of the hand instead of the second. Some schools, such as Heki-ryū Insai-ha only use the three-fingered glove, even with bows above 40 kilograms. The one-finger glove, called an ippongake (一本粉), is generally used for beginners and covers only

990-512: Is much larger than the Fureai Dome's (600 people), both facilities are able to accommodate international and nationwide sports competitions and events. They can play host to basketball, volleyball, table tennis, indoor tennis, gymnastics, in addition to other indoor sports. The domes can also be used for meetings, ceremonies and exhibitions. The Nagaragawa Stadium (長良川競技場 Nagaragawa Kyōgi-jō ) has an eight-lane, 400-meter outdoor track that surrounds

1056-445: Is not typically used in competition or by any other school. A practitioner's nock and grip of the arrow can be dictated by the glove and bow being used. It is not uncommon for practitioners who have upgraded or downgraded bow weight to continue to use the same glove and not change. With the exception of the ippongake , the yugake is worn with an underglove called a shitagake (下粉) made of cotton or synthetic cloth, mainly to protect

1122-407: Is not uncommon for a bowstring to break during shooting. Hence, many archers carry spare strings in what is called a tsurumaki (弦巻; "bow string roll"). Traditional tsurumaki are flat yoyo-shaped carriers made of woven bamboo, typically with a leather strap. Recently, however, plastic tsurumaki are also coming into use. Many archers also have small containers of fudeko and giriko attached to

1188-400: Is realized naturally. Kyūdō practice, as in all budō , includes the idea of moral and spiritual development. Today many archers practice kyūdō as a sport, with marksmanship being paramount. However, the goal most devotees of kyūdō seek is seisha seichū (正射正中), "correct shooting is correct hitting". In kyūdō the unique action of expansion ( nobiai ; 伸合い) that results in a natural release,

1254-576: Is sought. When the technique of the shooting is correct the result is that the arrow hits the target. To give oneself completely to the shooting is the spiritual goal, achieved by perfection of both the spirit and shooting technique leading to munen musō (無念無想), "no thoughts, no illusions". This however is not Zen , although Japanese bow can be used in Zen-practice or kyūdō practiced by a Zen master. In this respect, many kyūdō practitioners believe that competition, examination, and any opportunity that places

1320-531: Is supported by the smaller Supplemental Athletic Field (補助競技場 Hojo Kyōgi-jō ) just beside it. The supplemental field has a six-lane, 300-meter track that is often used for warm ups and practices. The Nagaragawa Ball Field (長良川球技メドウ Nagaragawa Kyūjō Medō ) also serves as host for various field sports. The Nagaragawa Baseball Stadium (長良川球場 Nagaragawa Kyūjō ) was originally opened in 1964 as the Gifu Prefectural Baseball Stadium in preparation for

1386-414: Is the archer's yatsuka plus 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in). Every ya has a spinning direction being made from feathers from alternate sides of the bird, the haya spins clockwise upon release while the otoya spins counter-clockwise. Kyūdō archers usually shoot two ya per round, with the haya being shot first ( haya (甲矢) means first arrow ; otoya (乙矢) means second arrow ). It is often said that

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1452-441: Is the governing body for kyūdō in Japan, and oversees the majority of kyūdō clubs and events in kyūdō. In kyūdō there are three kinds of practice ( keiko ; 稽古): mitori geiko (見取り稽古) – receiving with the eyes the style and technique of an advanced archer, kufū geiko (工夫稽古) – learning and keeping in mind the details of the technique and spiritual effort to realize it and kazu geiko (数稽古) – repetition through which

1518-449: The yumi did not go out of fashion and continued to be used as an important military force on the battlefield. The tanegashima however did not require the same amount of training as a yumi, allowing Oda Nobunaga 's army consisting mainly of farmers armed with tanegashima to annihilate a traditional samurai archer cavalry in a single battle in 1575 . During the Edo period (1603–1868) Japan

1584-557: The Genpei War (1180–1185) and as a result the founder of the Ogasawara-ryū ( Ogasawara Nagakiyo ), began teaching yabusame (mounted archery). During the Kamakura period (1185–1333), when Minamoto no Yoritomo established the Kamakura shogunate , archery became more and more popular, especially the three types of mounted archery : yabusame , inuoumono , and kasagake . From

1650-665: The Gifu Prefectural Baseball Stadium and, only a few hundred meters from there, the former location of the Gifu Correctional Facility. When the correctional facility was moved to a different location, it was decided that the facilities should be converted to help promote sports in the area. The site was then used to host the Gifu Future Watch '88 Exposition, before full construction of the present-day Memorial Center began. In 1990, construction began on

1716-544: The Yamato-ryū ( ja:大和流 ), which was based on Ogasawara-ryū etiquette and Heki-ryū shooting methods, and also incorporated Shinto ideas. During the changes to Japan brought by opening up to the outside world at the beginning of the Meiji era (1868–1912), the samurai lost their status. Therefore, kyūjutsu was considered obsolete and began to decline. Kyūjutsu practitioners established dojos to survive and began to spread among

1782-668: The Yayoi period (c. 500 BC – 300 AD). The changing of society and the samurai class taking power at the end of the Heian period (794－1185) created a requirement for education in archery. This led to the birth of the first kyūjutsu ryū-ha (流派, style), the Henmi-ryū (逸見流), founded by Henmi Kiyomitsu ( ja:源清光 ) in the 12th century. The Takeda-ryū ( ja:武田流 ) and the mounted archery school Ogasawara-ryū ( ja:小笠原流 ) were later founded by his descendants. The need for archers grew dramatically during

1848-400: The yugake from sweat which would degrade the deerskin of the glove over time. The shitagake comes in two varieties, three-fingered and four-fingered, depending on whether it is used under the mitsugake or the yotsugake . Because of the unique shooting technique of kyūdō, protection on the left (bow) arm is not generally required. The bow string, when properly released, will travel around

1914-457: The "[Japanese] Bow " ) is exceptionally tall (standing over two metres), surpassing the height of the archer. Yumi shafts are traditionally made of bamboo, wood and leather using techniques which have not changed for centuries, although some archers (particularly, those new to the art) may use synthetic (i.e. laminated wood coated with glassfibre or carbon fiber ) yumi . Even advanced practitioners may own non-bamboo bows and arrows because of

1980-473: The 15th to the 16th century, Japan was ravaged by civil war . In the latter part of the 15th century Heki Danjō Masatsugu revolutionized archery with his new and accurate approach called hi , kan , chū (fly, pierce, center), and his footman's archery spread rapidly. Many new schools were formed, some of which remain today, such as Heki-ryū Chikurin-ha ( ja:日置流竹林派 ), Heki-ryū Sekka-ha (日置流雪荷派) and Heki-ryū Insai-ha (日置流印西派). The yumi (Japanese bow) as

2046-538: The 1965 sports festival. It was eventually closed, but was reopened on April 1, 1991, when it began hosting high school, amateur, corporate and professional teams. Each year, the Chunichi Dragons play host at the stadium for one game. The stadium has a capacity for approximately 30,000 spectators. Other sports facilities include the Nagaragawa Swimming Plaza (長良川スイミングプラザ Nagaragawa Suimingu Puraza ) and

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2112-406: The 3rd, 2nd, and 1- kyū ranks are more common among students, while adults will sometimes skip the kyū ranks entirely and move straight on 1- dan , though this depends significantly on the policy of the regional federation. Dan test frequency also varies depending on location, occurring anywhere as often as 4 times a year to as rarely as only once or twice a year. Such tests are generally held by

2178-553: The Japanese martial art of archery . Kyūdō is based on kyūjutsu ("art of archery"), which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan . In 1919, the name of kyūjutsu was officially changed to kyūdō , and following the example of other martial arts that have been systematizing for educational purposes, kyūdō also reorganized and integrated various forms of shooting that had been used up until then. Many practitioners may refer to themselves as yumihiki (弓引き), or 'ones who draw

2244-623: The Memorial Center also has facilities for Japan's traditional sports. The Martial Arts Building (武道館 Budōkan ) was created for participants in judo and kendo . The Sumo Grounds (相撲場 Sumō-jō ) only offer one ring in which sumo wrestlers can face off, but provides seating for over 150 viewers. Also, the Nagaragawa Kyūdō Grounds (長良川弓道場 Nagaragawa Kyūdō-jō ) allows up to six participants to compete in kyūdō competitions. Nagaragawa Convention Center The Nagaragawa Convention Center ( 長良川国際会議場 , Nagaragawa Kokusai Kaigijō )

2310-588: The Nagaragawa Tennis Plaza (長良川テニスプラザ Nagaragawa Tenisu Puraza ). The swimming plaza consists of a 50-meter, nine-lane outdoor pool and a 25-meter, seven-lane indoor pool, as well as an outdoor pool for synchronized swimming. The tennis plaza holds one center court, in addition to 16 other courts, all of which are clay or artificial grass. Both of these plazas are open to the general public, though they are occasionally closed for both amateur and professional tournaments. In addition to supporting modern sports,

2376-510: The alternate spinning direction of the arrows would prevent two consecutive identically shot arrows from flying identically and thus colliding. The arrowhead is called a Yajiri ( 鏃 , lit. "Arrowhead" ) . Ya are normally kept in a cylindrical quiver, called a Yazutsu ( 矢筒 , lit. "[Japanese] Arrow Barrel" ) , with ceremonial and traditional archers using the Yebira ( 箙 , lit. the "[Japanese] Quiver (of Arrows)" ) . The kyūdō archer wears

2442-536: The archer in this uncompromising situation is important, while other practitioners will avoid competitions or examinations of any kind. Kyūdō itself is not a religion, but instead has influences from both Shinto and Zen. Post Meiji when bows were no longer used for war, kyūdō in Japan was practiced for physical education, without any connection to zen or religion. However, since the Second World War , kyūdō has often been associated with Zen Buddhism , largely due to

2508-424: The archer passes, permits them to register for a grade, which can be kyū or dan level. Traditional schools, however, often rank students as a recognition of their achievement and as permission to instruct at various levels using the older menkyo (license) system of koryū budō . One's first shinsa is generally mushitei (unspecified), the performance in which will determine one's first rank. Generally

2574-405: The bow hand, coming to rest on the outside of the arm. However, on rare occasions a bow hand glove, called an oshidegake (押手弽), is used, which serves to protect the left thumb from injury from the arrow and fletching. A forearm protector can also be worn, primarily by beginners, to protect the left arm from being hit by the string. Powder made of burnt rice husks called fudeko (筆粉) is applied to

2640-411: The bow so that the drawing hand is held behind the ear. If done improperly, upon release the string may strike the archer's ear or side of the face. Resulting from the technique to release the shot, the bow will (for a practised archer) spin in the hand so that the string stops in front of the archer's outer forearm. This action of yugaeri (弓返り) is a combination of technique and the natural working of

2706-459: The bow'. Kyūdō is practised by over a hundred thousand people worldwide. The bow they use is called a yumi ( 弓 ) . It has an asymmetrical shape and length of more than 2.0 metres (6 ft 7 in), and its use is characterized by the archer gripping the lower third of the bow stave to shoot. The beginning of archery in Japan is pre-historical. The first images picturing the distinct Japanese asymmetrical longbow are found on Dōtaku from

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2772-456: The bow. It is unique to kyūdō. Kyūdō technique is meticulously prescribed. Different styles have their own variations from the steps, the most notable difference being between the vertical bow rising shomen (正面) and aslant bow rising shamen (斜面). The hassetsu (or "eight stages of shooting") of the shomen style is described in the Kyudo Kyohon ("Kyudo Manual"): Throughout the process,

2838-468: The centerline of the archer's body). Because the target is so close and the shot most certainly will hit, the archer can concentrate on refining technique rather than on the arrow's arc. Mato is the normal target for most kyūdō practitioners. Mato sizes and shooting distances vary, but most common is hoshi mato (星的) thirty-six centimeters (or 12 sun , a traditional Japanese measurement equivalent to approximately 30.3 cm) in diameter shot at from

2904-475: The common people. Kyūjutsu was first adopted as a subject in school education in 1895, encouraged by its beginning to spread among the common people. In 1896, a group of kyūjutsu masters gathered to save traditional archery. Honda Toshizane, the kyūjutsu teacher for the Imperial University of Tokyo , merged the war and ceremonial shooting styles, creating a hybrid called Honda-ryū ( ja:本多流生弓会 ). From 1919,

2970-431: The convention center is the largest in all of Gifu Prefecture. It is mainly used for concerts and as a central location for conventions. With an area near 1,206 m (12,981 sq ft), it seats 1,689 people, but the floors and walls are adjustable, offering many difference configurations. It was named one of Japan's Top 100 Venues for musical performances. There is also an international conference room located in

3036-405: The dome portion of the egg-like structure. A portion of the wall can open up to a view of the Nagara River , Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle . The room is suitable for mid-sized international conventions and can provide simultaneous interpretations in six languages. There are also small, medium and large meeting rooms available for more private meetings. The total floor space for the main hall and

3102-544: The efforts of a single book Zen in the Art of Archery (1948) by the German author Eugen Herrigel . Herrigel spoke only a little Japanese, generally using a translator to speak with his teacher. His view on kyūdō is due his exposure to a contemplative form of kyūdō. Even so, Herrigel's book, when translated into Japanese in 1956, had a huge impact on perception of kyūdō also in Japan. Zenko (a Heki-ryū Bishu Chikurin-ha school of kyūdō)

3168-401: The eight other rooms is 2,332 m (25,101 sq ft), allowing seating for over 2,400 people. Gifu Bus provides public transportation from both JR Gifu Station and Meitetsu Gifu Station downtown. Riders can get off at either the "Nagaragawa Kokusai Kaigijō Kitaguchi" or the "Nagaragawa Kokusai Kaigijō-mae" bus stop. Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D Kyūdō ( Japanese : 弓道 ) is

3234-741: The emphasis is different. Some emphasize aesthetics and others efficiency. Contemplative schools teach the form as a meditation in action. In certain schools, to shoot correctly will result inevitably in hitting the desired target. For this a phrase seisha hicchū (正射必中), "true shooting, certain hitting", is used. According to the All Nippon Kyudo Federation , the supreme goal of kyūdō is the state of shin-zen-bi (真善美), roughly "truth-goodness-beauty", which can be approximated as: when archers shoot correctly (i.e. truthfully) with virtuous spirit and attitude toward all persons and all things which relate to kyūdō (i.e. with goodness), beautiful shooting

3300-419: The end of the tsurumaki strap; these containers are called fudeko-ire (筆粉入れ) and giriko-ire (ぎり粉入れ) and are traditionally made of horn or antler (though many modern archers have fudeko-ire and giriko-ire made of plastic). All kyūdō archers hold the bow in their left hand and draw the string with their right, so that all archers face the higher position ( kamiza ; 上座) while shooting. Kyūdō archers draw

3366-424: The extra finger on the glove stems from having more surface area available to the archer for the heavier draws. During the draw, the thumb of the archer is typically placed on the last gloved finger of the drawing hand, with the first (or, in the case of a yotsugake , the first and index fingers) being placed gently on either the thumb or the arrow shaft itself. Sometimes a type of resin powder, called giriko (ぎり粉),

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3432-459: The form of practice can vary. To harmonize practice and ceremonial shooting ( sharei ; 的礼) in 1953 the All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF) formed an establishing committee from the main schools to take the best elements of each school and form the general style that is used today throughout Japan and in most kyūdō federations in the west. This standard form was documented in a manual, Kyudo Manual, Principles of Shooting , published in 1953. The ANKF

3498-399: The hand that holds the bow to absorb sweat, allowing the bow to turn in the hand. Female archers also wear a chest protector called a Muneate ( 胸当て , lit. "[Yumi] plastron / chestguard " ) , which is generally a piece of leather or plastic which is designed to protect the breasts from being struck by the bowstring during shooting. Because repeated usage tends to weaken the bowstring, it

3564-524: The kyūdō practitioner maintains ritual breathing between each action, which creates ma-ai between intervals. While other schools' shooting also conforms to the hassetsu outlined above, the naming of some steps and some details of the execution of the shot may differ. Kyūdō ranking system was established by the DNBK in 1923, using a system which is now common to modern budō (martial art) practices. Most kyūdō federations periodically hold examinations, which, if

3630-440: The mato (的) may be asked to shoot from half or three-quarters of the usual distance. Advanced beginners and advanced shooters practice shooting at makiwara , mato and some with omato . Makiwara is a specially designed straw target (not to be confused with makiwara used in karate ). The makiwara is shot at from a very close range (about seven feet, or the length of the archer's strung yumi when held horizontally from

3696-407: The name of "kyūjutsu" was gradually replaced within clubs and events with the term "kyūdō", with "kyūjutsu" disappearing completely by 1933. A mixed-style form was created by blending Ogasawara-ryū, Honda-ryū, and Heki-ryū, which was called kyūdō yosoku . A ranking system for kyūdō was established in 1923. Kyūdō also reorganized and integrated various other forms of shooting. Due to the abolishing of

3762-472: The need to travel as well the risk of infection - an approach that was later extended to overseas practitioners testing up to 2-dan. While kyūdō's system of kyū and dan levels are similar to those of other budō practices, colored belts or similar external symbols of one's level are not worn by kyūdō practitioners. While kyūdō is primarily viewed as an avenue toward self-improvement, there are often kyūdō competitions or tournaments whereby archers practise in

3828-504: The original Dai Nippon Butoku Kai after WWII (re-established in 1953), several martial arts disciplines created their own organizations. Guidelines published in the 1953 book Kyudo Manual ( 弓道教本 , kyūdō kyohon ) define how, in a competition or graduation, archers from different schools can shoot together in unified form. Kyūdō is practiced in many different schools, some of which descend from military shooting and others that descend from ceremonial or contemplative practice. Therefore,

3894-474: The prefecture kyūdō federation and the archer may have to travel quite a distance to the prefectural capital or a large city to test. Often testing includes many archers and may take as much as 6 to 8 hours to test all of the different levels, though the COVID-19 pandemic did result in temporary changes in how testing was run. One of these changes was the introduction of video shinsa that could be submitted to reduce

3960-422: The technique is personified in one's own shooting. Kyūdō is different to other martial arts, in that it is largely static. It can be enjoyed competitively, or as a simple recreation. It can also be enjoyed by those seeking to gain the beauty of form. Beginners start with a rubber practice bow and by practising the movements of hassetsu (八節). The second step for a beginner is to do karabiki (空引) training with

4026-501: The thumb. Some versions have a full wrist covering and others simply cover the thumb with a small strap and snap around the wrist. Because it has no glove over the fingers, it is typically uncomfortable for the archer to use giriko powder. Ippongake are generally not used by advanced archers, and are not allowed in ANKF competitions. The five-finger glove, called a morogake (諸粉), is used almost exclusively by Ogasawara-ryū practitioners, and

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4092-589: The track and field facilities, which was soon followed by other sport-specific facilities. Many of the Memorial Centers facilities are connected by the San San Deck (サンサンデッキ San San Dekki ), a raised pedestrian walkway that runs through the center of the complex. Some other buildings that are connected by the deck include the Management Building (本館 Honkan ), which houses staff offices, training rooms and

4158-609: The vulnerability of bamboo equipment to extreme climates. The suitable height for the bow depends on the archer's draw ( yazuka ; 矢束) which is about half the archer's height. Ya ( 矢 , lit. "[Japanese] Arrow" ) shafts ( Yagara ( 簳 , lit. "Arrow Shaft" ) ) are traditionally made of bamboo, with either eagle or hawk feathers ( Hane ( 羽 , lit. "Feather(s)" ) ). Most ya shafts today are still made of bamboo (although some archers will use shafts made of aluminium or carbon fibres), and ya feathers are now obtained from non-endangered birds such as turkeys or swans. The length of an arrow

4224-429: Was built to promote Gifu as a good location for large conventions and has many enticements to attract both domestic and international groups to hold events in the city. The famed architect Tadao Ando designed the structure, giving it a unique, egg-shaped look from the outside, making it immediately recognizable. It opened on September 1, 1995, and is managed by the city's Public Hall Management Group. The main hall of

4290-455: Was popularly held at the Buddhist temple Sanjusangen-do . Many samurai competed to hit an arrow at a target 133 meters away, nearly the width of the Buddhist temple. Today, this Tōshiya contest is held as an annual event on Coming of Age Day, January 15, with women archers participating, but with the distance to the target shortened to 60 meters. In the early Edo period, Morikawa Kōzan founded

4356-442: Was turned inward as a hierarchical caste society in which the samurai were at the top. There was an extended era of peace during which the samurai moved to administrative duty, although the traditional fighting skills were still esteemed. During this period archery became a "voluntary" skill, practised partly in the court in ceremonial form, partly as different kinds of competition. During this period, an archery contest called Tōshiya

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