Kyudo Demonstration - Kagami Biraki 2022

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Kyudo Demonstration during the 2022 Kagami Biraki & Budo Hajime, at the Nippon Budokan.

Demonstration by Ishikawa Takashi, 6th Dan, Murakawa Haruka, 6th Dan, and Kano Shinichi, 7th Dan.

Since ancient times, the Sharei, the ceremonial shooting, was presented during religious ceremonies and other formal occasions. Traditional clothing is worn, representing a specific era and its traditions, and the shooting is executed based on the principle of Kikyo Shintai.
It is said “shooting begins with etiquette and ends with etiquette” meaning that one should act according to the time, place, and ranking of the situation. It is the main focus of Kyudo to reunite the shooting and etiquette in harmony.
Since ancient times, one’s goodness is polished through the bow and it has become an important tool to establish the ethical and moral structure of society.
In that sense, emphasizing the spiritual aspects with honesty and courteousness, the shooting allows one to express one’s heart and embodies the beauty of harmony.

The Kagami biraki is a traditional ceremony that translates to "opening the mirror" (symbolically).
Taking its roots in the Shogunate, it is strongly linked to Budo practice and, naturally, the Budo Hajime (the first practice of the year) is celebrated at the same time.

At the Nippon Budokan, the ceremony is held at the beginning of January and consists in:
The Kagami biraki, with a historical reconstruction (in armor).
Budo Demonstrations (by the 9 "official Budo").
Budo Hajime (the first practice of the year, all practitioners present can practice).
The Oshiruko kai. “Oshiruko” is a traditional and popular sweet azuki bean paste soup with mochi (which symbolizes the sharing of the mochi that was broken before during the ceremony). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this last part has been canceled for sanitary reasons.

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