留学生が「流鏑馬神事」に参加しました
International Students Participated in Yabusame event in Kamakura

2023年12月2日（土）、鎌倉教場で大日本弓場会主催流鏑馬神事が執り行われました。小池治名誉教授のご引率で本学JICA研修生（国際社会科学府・先進実践学環）計13名が参加しました。

当日は風のない穏やかな晴天で、流鏑馬にぴったりの気候となりました。主催者の粋なサプライズで、会場入り口には来場者の出身国の国旗が掲揚されていました。母国の国旗を見つけた留学生達は大興奮！

流鏑馬とは、疾走する馬上から鏑矢（かぶらや）と呼ばれる弓矢を打ち、3つの的に当てる日本の伝統武術で、神の前でおこなう儀式でもある神聖なものだそうです。 流鏑馬神事では、流鏑馬の歴史、伝統的な作法や装束、射手についての丁寧な解説がありました。「流鏑馬は神事であることから、単に武芸を競うのではなく、天下泰平、五穀豊穣、万民息災を祈念して行います」という説明に流鏑馬神事の奥深さを感じられました。目の前をすごいスピードで駆け抜ける馬の迫力、馬上から放たれた矢が的をとらえると観覧者からは拍手や歓声が溢れました。

会場では、鎌倉彫や鎌倉時代の食文化、和式馬具の展示ブースがあり、留学生たちは興味深く見学していました。また、流鏑馬の弓を引く体験ができるブースでは、弓を引く姿勢を真剣な表情で習っていました。

参加した留学生からは、「日本だけでなく、世界の平和と地球上のすべての人の幸せを考えている素晴らしいイベントだった。」「今回初めて流鏑馬を見て、日本の文化を堪能することができた。走る馬からのターゲティングは本当に興味深かった。」と感動の声が寄せられました。参加した留学生にとって、忘れられない一日となったようです。

On Saturday, December 2, 2023, Yabusame ritual organized by Japan Equestrian Archery Association was held at Yabusame Kamakura Ground. Emeritus Professor, Koike Osamu led a group of 13 JICA students from YNU Graduate School of International Social Sciences and Interfaculty Graduate School of Innovative and Practical Studies.

It was calm and sunny day with no wind, perfect weather for Yabusame-horseback archery. As a fantastic surprise from the organizers, the national flags of the countries of the visitors were flown at the entrance of the venue. YNU international students were excited when they found their home country's flag!

Yabusame is a traditional Japanese martial art in which arrows called “Kaburaya” are shot from a galloping horse and hit three targets. It is said to be a sacred ritual performed in front of the gods. During the ritual, there were detailed explanations about the history of Yabusame, traditional manners and costumes, and the profile of each archer. They explained that "Yabusame is a religious ritual, so it is not just a competition, but a praying for peace, a good harvest, and good health for all people in the world," which showed the depth of the Yabusame ritual. The horse galloped past right in front of the audience at great speed. When the archer's arrow shot from the horse caught the target, the audience applauded and cheered.

At the venue, there were booths displaying Kamakura-Bori lacquerware, food culture of  Kamakura-period, and Japanese-style horse harnesses. Those booths attracted the international students. Many participants also excitedly learned how to draw a bow at a booth where visitors could try Yabusame.

Here are some comments from international students who participated in the event. "It was a wonderful event that not only focused on Japan, but also on world peace and the happiness of all people on the earth.” “I saw Yabusame archery for the first time and was able to enjoy the Japanese culture. The targeting from the running horses was really interesting.” It was an unforgettable day for the international students.