For my Wednesday during Golden Week, I set out to Kashima Shrine. Kashima is very famous for it's
sword fighting schools, but it is also famous for yabusame, horseback archery. Before the yabusame display there was a rice planting ceremony. It was very amusing. All the little girls would wear flower hats, clap and dance around a circle, all while the priest beat the drum. One of my students was there and said hello! It's always nice to see a student outside of class.
After the ceremony the horses and archers paraded into the shrine grounds with a
parade float following behind. After entering into the shrine grounds they held their own rituals. Offering local vegetables and prayers before moving everyone to the long stretch of path. It was a really long stretch of land. With three targets that were set up. Before each run, the archers would ride past on display.
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