Tōshiya

Lore & Background

The contest originated in the late 16th century, dating back to 1606 when a samurai named Asaoka Heibei is said to have shot 51 arrows in rapid succession down the length of the veranda. Initially, archers shot from the southern end to a curtain-like ornament at the northern end. The Tōshiya gained popularity during the Edo period, and by the late 17th century, competitions between participants from the Owari and Kishū provinces drew big crowds.

There were four distinct events: the Hyakuten (most hits out of 100 arrows), the Semban (most hits out of 1,000 arrows), the Wakabana (for boys before their coming-of-age ceremony, shooting as many arrows as possible in 12 hours), and the Ōyakazu (shooting as many arrows as possible in 24 hours, averaging about 10,000 arrows). Champions were honored with a certificate hung in the temple showing their name, age, number of arrows shot, and the date.

Reader's Guide

The Tōshiya ceased being held in 1861 after 255 years, but its legacy continues through the Ōmato Taikai, or Tournament of the Great Target, which draws roughly 2,000 participants from throughout Japan. This modern contest is held on the second Sunday of January in conjunction with the temple's Yanagi-no-Okaji (Rite of the Willow) ritual and Japan's Coming of Age Day.

Archers shoot at targets approximately 50–100 cm in diameter from 60 meters (198 feet) away at the opposite end of the veranda. The historical competition also left physical traces: wooden roof beams removed during reconstruction work still bear bristles from numerous arrows that hit the beams during the annual archery competition. The Tōshiya has been used as a motif in stories and film, reflecting its cultural resonance beyond the sport itself.

Did You Know?

• In 1827, 11-year-old Kokura Gishichi hit the target 995 times out of 1,000 arrows, shooting from half the distance.
• In 1686, Wasa Daihachiro set a 24-hour record of 8,133 hits out of 13,053 arrows, averaging 9 arrows per minute.