Kyoto’s Sanjusangendo Hosts Annual New Year Archery Event for 1,700 Participants

Kyoto, The Gulf Observer: On Sunday, approximately 1,700 new adults, predominantly women, enthusiastically participated in the annual New Year archery event at Sanjusangendo, a revered Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

This archery tournament, known as kyudo in Japanese, entailed participants skillfully shooting at a one-meter-wide target situated 60 meters away.

Executed in groups, each archer was allotted two arrows and a two-minute window to strike the targets. Advancement to the second round was granted to those adept archers who successfully hit the target with both arrows.

Rooted in tradition, this event has been a cultural fixture since the early 1600s, showcasing the enduring appeal of this ancient practice within the community.