On October 18, 2026, the "Kasagake" ritual—a competition of traditional mounted archery—was held at the World Heritage site of Kamigamo Shrine in Kita Ward, Kyoto. Under a clear blue sky, archers dressed in *eboshi* (traditional caps) and *hitatare* (traditional robes) shot arrows at targets while riding galloping horses, drawing loud cheers from the spectators.
Unlike *yabusame* (another form of mounted archery), *kasagake* is characterized by its focus on practical combat techniques, such as aiming for the vital points—like the face—of an enemy commander. Along a 200-meter track set up within the shrine grounds, five targets were positioned at two different heights, simulating scenarios where an enemy might be standing or crouching.
The event featured a *hosha* (ceremonial mounted archery offering) performed by ten archers from the Takeda school of *kyuba reihō* (the etiquette and techniques of mounted archery), followed by a *kyōsha* (competitive archery) segment, in which the five top-performing archers from the initial round vied for the best result. The sound of horses galloping and arrows striking their targets echoed through the grounds, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the many international tourists in attendance.
