The traditional skill of shooting blunt-headed arrows from horseback at full gallop
Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery yabusame
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Location
- Ninomaru Square of Kumamoto Castle / Izumi Shrine
- Area
- Kumamoto Prefecture・Kumamoto City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery is a traditional performing art of Kumamoto, passed down from the Takeda family through the Hosokawa family. Its distinctive feature is the skill of shooting blunt-headed arrows from horseback at full gallop. Performances are held at the Ninomaru Square of Kumamoto Castle, and offerings are made at Izumi Shrine.
About Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery yabusame
Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery yabusame is a traditional performing art passed down from Nobunao, the last head of the Takeda family, to Hosokawa Fujitaka and his son Tadaoki, and then from Tadaoki’s son Tadatoshi to the Takehara family, their retainers.
Today, it is part of Kumamoto City’s cultural heritage and is designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Kumamoto Prefecture.
It is performed at the Ninomaru Square of Kumamoto Castle during the Castle Festival, and hono offerings are made at Izumi Shrine.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the sequence of skills involved in shooting an arrow from horseback at full gallop and hitting a target.
In yabusame as practiced today, 3 targets are set up along the riding ground, and archers shoot blunt-headed arrows while the horse is running.
Watching the horse’s movements, the archer’s posture, and the moment the arrow hits the target together reveals what makes this traditional performing art distinctive.
The traditional skill of shooting blunt-headed arrows from horseback at full gallop
What to expect
At the event, 3 targets are set up along the riding ground, and riders shoot blunt-headed arrows at them from horseback as the horses run.
Yabusame is performed at the Ninomaru Square of Kumamoto Castle during the Castle Festival, as well as offered in hono at Izumi Shrine.
The difference between a performance and a hono offering also shows the ways in which this art has been passed down.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Ninomaru Square of Kumamoto Castle / Izumi Shrine
Event venue 熊本県熊本市 熊本城二の丸広場
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
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Nearby attractions
水前寺江津湖公園
熊本市にある公園
肥後の里山ギャラリー
熊本県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
くまもと工芸会館
熊本市南区にある文化施設 (1991 - )
リデル・ライト両女史記念館
熊本市中央区にある博物館
加藤神社
熊本県熊本市の熊本城内にある神社
北岡神社
熊本県熊本市西区にある神社
島田美術館
熊本県熊本市西区島崎にある美術館
水前寺成趣園
熊本市中央区にある大名庭園
熊本国際民藝館
熊本市北区にある博物館
熊本城稲荷神社
熊本県熊本市にある神社
熊本大学五高記念館
熊本県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
写真：910MoLT at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo source ·
熊本大神宮
中央区にある神社
Origins and History of Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery yabusame
It is said that this yabusame was passed down from Nobunao, the last head of the Takeda family, to Hosokawa Fujitaka and his son Tadaoki, and then from Tadaoki’s son Tadatoshi to the Takehara family, their retainers.
It continued to be passed down under the name Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu). In its current form, 3 targets are set up along the riding ground and riders shoot blunt-headed arrows at them.
It is designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Kumamoto Prefecture and is passed down through performances and hono offerings.
Official information
武田流流鏑馬保存会 yabusame.main.jp
Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery yabusame at a Glance
Takeda-ryu (Hosokawa-ryu) mounted archery yabusame is a traditional performing art of Kumamoto, passed down from the Takeda family through the Hosokawa family to their retainers, the Takehara family.
A distinctive feature is that 3 targets are set up along the riding ground, and riders shoot blunt-headed arrows at them from horseback at full gallop.
It is performed at the Ninomaru Square of Kumamoto Castle and offered in hono at Izumi Shrine. It is designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Kumamoto Prefecture.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
