Arab News Japan

TOKYO: About 30 archers paraded at Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu shrine as part of the tradition of Omato Shiki, which has existed since the Heian and Kamakura eras in Japan.

Dressed in full period regalia, a ritual drum sounded within the shrine grounds at the stroke of noon and the archers took their places in front of the altar to hear the blessing of a Shinto priest.

The garments the archers wear bear witness to their rank and lineage; some of the archers hail from Japan’s nobility.  

The archers then exited the sacred enclosure of the shrine’s sanctuary by passing under the Toorii gateway.  They recovered their weapons and then participated in a ceremony exclusive to the archers.

According to a priest at the shrine, the ancient tradition is practiced for the protection of the country and to ward off calamities.  The tradition of Kyujitsu (ritual archery) refers to the tradition of the OGASAWARA Ryu school of martial arts, which created the ritual in the Kamakura period for members of the Japanese elite.

Ogasawara etiquette is still taught to the Japanese Imperial family by a member of this school.