New Adults Attend Archery Ceremony In Kyoto
Women who recently came of age took part in a New Year's archery event at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto on Sunday.
The women wearing kimono shot arrows in the annual event at Sanjusangendo, ahead of the national Japanese archery championships. The temple is a designated national treasure.
The archers took aim at one-meter wide targets 60 meters away.
A college student said she is glad she was able to perform at the New Year event, and that as she became 20 years old, she wants to be an adult who can contribute to society.
Another student said she felt a little nervous, but it was a good start to her adult life. She added that she wants to take on new challenges this year.
Master archers competed at Sanjusangendo from the Kamakura to the Edo period during the 12th to 19th centuries.
The national archery championships are normally held every winter, but the New Year event was canceled in 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The competitions were held without spectators for the first time in two years.