VOL.210 DECEMBER 2025
SCHOOLS IN JAPAN [Introducing Precious Traditional Japanese Culture to the World] Galloping Across Worlds: The Sacred Art of Yabusame

The fitting of the arrow quiver before riding.
Photo: Courtesy of OKUBO Hirofumi

Michael No is a disciple of Ogasawara-ryu,¹ a school that has systematized traditional Japanese etiquette (reiho), archery (kyujutsu), and mounted archery (kyubajutsu)—practices that have been faithfully passed down through the Ogasawara clan for over 850 years across 31 generations. Born in Australia and now residing in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Michael has been studying the art of yabusame²—serving as a ritual mounted archer across Japan—since 2013. We spoke with Michael about the appeal of this ancient art.

Mounted archery in Japan has a long and distinguished history, serving both practical and ceremonial purposes. The earliest records of yabusame, one form of mounted archery, date back to the Heian period (late 8th to late 12th century), when it was performed as a court ritual for the aristocrats. By the Kamakura period (late 12th to early 14th century), it took on a stronger role as training for the samurai, becoming one of the defining symbols of warrior culture.

Relatively unknown outside Japan, yabusame is a sacred form of mounted archery among the country’s many beautiful traditional arts, typically performed on shrine grounds. Archers gallop at full speed down a roughly 250meter course, shooting three arrows at three targets in succession.

The sight and sound of yabusame is truly breathtaking: the rumbling of the earth as horse and rider sprint in perfect harmony, the archer’s ritual cry of “Inyo,”³ and the sharp crack of arrows smashing the wooden targets resonate across the shrine. The ceremony is further enriched by attendants in samurai armor and traditional clothing, horses tacked in ornate saddles that are hundreds of years old, and the solemn, historic setting of the shrines themselves. Particularly at famous venues, tens of thousands of spectators gather to watch this striking fusion of devotion, beauty, and skill.

Yabusame is both an offering and a prayer. Arrows are shot in prayers of peace for stability for the nation, abundant grain harvests, and protection from illness and misfortune. Ogasawara-ryu performs yabusame at many shrines across Japan, and while each ritual shares the same essence, the details often vary in accordance with each shrine’s unique traditions.

Though it may appear competitive, yabusame is not a tournament—there are no winners or rankings. The primary goal is to hit all three targets. The total number of successful hits by all archers signifies the ritual’s overall success—the more hits, the more auspicious the outcome. Yet beyond accuracy, the ultimate aim for all archers lies in achieving harmony of body, mind, and horse—an extremely focused state known as seishin toitsu (spiritual unity) and jinba ittai (horse and rider as one).

Throughout Japan, some schools of yabusame historically served regional daimyo,⁴ while Ogasawara-ryu served the shogunate. The practice declined for a time following the introduction of firearms, but it was revived under the eighth shogun of the Edo period, Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684–1751), who was concerned about declining standards in horsemanship and archery skills. During this revival, the Kamakura-period style yabusame was preserved, and a new, more practical form known as kisha hasamimono⁵ was developed—both of which continue to be practiced today.

Today, only two schools maintain the historical lineages of yabusame: Ogasawara-ryu and Takeda-ryu.⁶ Though they share ancient roots, each has distinct characteristics in attire, equipment, targets, and shooting technique. In modern times, new groups have also emerged, developing what is known as sports yabusame—a competitive form of mounted archery.

My introduction to yabusame began in childhood. I was raised in my family’s dojo, where my father—an accomplished and respected judo and taekwondo teacher who emigrated from Korea to Australia—did his best to instill in me discipline, respect, and physicality while my maternal grandfather, affectionately known as “Horsey Grandpa,” was a gifted horseman. I grew up active, curious, and drawn to adventure. By my late teens, I had taken up archery, and in retrospect, I realize that this environment laid the foundation for the journey into yabusame that awaited me.

The first time I saw yabusame was online, and I was instantly captivated. The image of a galloping steed, thunderous and powerful, paired with the intense focus of the archer, the enormous asymmetrical bow, and the sacred shrine setting—struck something deep within me. I knew immediately, “This is it.” And a dream I had as a boy—to tame a wild horse, ride bareback, and shoot arrows at full speed—had been reborn in a more refined and profoundly Japanese form.

After moving to Japan in 2012, I promptly began practicing kyudo (Japanese archery). While I was captivated by kyudo, my real aspiration was yabusame—specifically, Ogasawara-ryu yabusame. I was drawn to its long, continuous lineage, the depth of its teachings, and its elegant aesthetic. For a time, I hesitated to approach the school, but by chance I was introduced to one of its disciples. Soon after, I moved to Nikko and devoted myself to daily practice.

Those early days were filled with both challenges and excitement, and even after more than a decade, yabusame continues to reveal new dimensions to study and appreciate. It is not merely a pursuit of technique, but a path to harmonize mind, body, and horse. When I first began, I could never have imagined how profoundly yabusame would give me a sense of purpose and connect me so deeply to both Japanese culture and the world of horses.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Japan, I wholeheartedly encourage you to witness a yabusame ritual in person. The experience is profoundly moving, and the spectacle is sure to leave an impression beyond anything you can imagine.  

Michael No
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Michael developed an interest in yabusame and moved to Japan in 2012. He has trained for over a decade as a disciple of Ogasawara-ryu, practicing daily and serving as a mounted archer in Shinto rituals and other events. He serves as an instructor of cultural experiences and a horse trainer in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture.
Photo: Courtesy of TOYONAGA Kazuaki

• 1. The founder of Ogasawara-ryu, OGASAWARA Nagakiyo, was the instructor of etiquette and mounted archery for Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the general who established the Kamakura shogunate. Thereafter, the Ogasawara family continued as instructors to the shogun’s family, passing down the practices of reiho (etiquette), kyujutsu (hosha, foot archery), and kyubajutsu (kisha, mounted archery). Reiho refers to the refined and efficient manners of the warrior class; hosha is archery performed on foot, and kisha is archery performed on horseback.
• 2. A form of mounted archery in which archers shoot targets while galloping on horseback. Popular among samurai from the late Heian to Kamakura periods, it is now preserved as a Shinto ritual performed at shrines.
• 3. The archer’s ritual cry of “Inyo” (“yin-yang”) is believed to resonate with the cosmos and the divine. The concept of inyo reflects the idea that all things are governed by the balance of two opposing forces, yin and yang—a philosophy that was also embraced by the samurai.
• 4. A powerful samurai with extensive land holdings.
• 5. A type of yabusame performed in simplified, lighter attire.
• 6. One of the oldest schools of yabusame, with a history dating back to the late 12th century. Known for skills such as taming wild horses, it preserves the practical techniques and spirit cultivated by samurai. (See “Yabusame: Keeping 800-Year-Old Traditions of Ancient Japanese Horseback Archery Alive in the Present Day,”  Highlighting Japan, December 2023 issue)

By Michael No
Photo: OKUBO Hirofumi; Joffrey Maubert; MORIZAKI Kiyomitsu; TAKARADA Kouhei; MORIYAMA Masatomo; TOYONAGA Kazuaki