Kyudo

This is a "Nishiki-e", or multi-colored woodblock print, entitled "On Iba Hajime" by the artist Yoshu Chikanobu. It is one of the artworks from the print series "Chiyoda no On-omote" ("Scenes Around Chiyoda Palace", from the National Diet L

ibrary archives).

The samurai of the Edo period did not experience great wars, especially after the middle of the Edo period. However, they did not neglect their martial art training during that time. The samurai trained their archery skills by practicing hitting targets with their Japanese bows as shown in this print. This art is still popular today, known as "Kyudo" or Japanese-style archery.