Page 50 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Horse Around
Perfected in the 12th-century
yabusame (horseback archery)
involves an archer galloping
down a 837-ft- (255-m-) long
track, controlling his horse
with his knees, while shooting
an arrow at three targets. The
best place to witness this feat
DISCOVER Japan Your Way The inspired can attempt to
is at the Kamakura Festival
(p154), held each September.
master this art at Ibraki
(www.govoyagin.com).

Showcasing the art of
yabusame at the
Kamakura Festival

JAPAN FOR
SAMURAI STORIES

While samurai may be a thing of the past, the legend around these mythical
and honorable warriors has not been forgotten. Step into the world of these
ancient military elite by visiting their old haunts or trying your hand at
mastering skills, from sword fighting to archery on horseback.

TOP SAMURAI
5 MOVIES

Seven Samurai (1954)
Farmers hire samurai to
fight against bandits
stealing their crops.
Yojimbo (1961)
A samurai convinces
two competing crime
lords to hire him.
Harakiri (1962)
Conflict arises over Fight Club
the practice of ritual A samurai’s sword was said to be his
suicide, seppuku. soul – naturally, these weapons
could only be made by expert crafts-
Twilight Samurai men. See swords on display at the
(2002) Sword Museum in Tokyo (p144) or
A reluctant samurai is visit the Seki Traditional Swordsmith
forced to fight. Museum near Nagoya (p170) to wit -
ness this incredible craft in action.
Samurai Rebellion
(1967)
A samurai risks death A model in samurai
to save his son’s wife. regalia, clutching
a prized sword
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