矢場／弓道　Yaba (Archery ranges) / Kyudo (Japanese archery)

矢場の歴史

江戸時代から明治、大正時代にかけて神社仏閣の境内や盛り場（繁華街・歓楽街）などで料金を取り
「楊弓(小型の弓)」「半弓（中型の弓）」「大弓（弓道で使用する大型の弓）」などの和弓を使用し
「的を射て遊ぶ遊戯店」が登場。「楊弓場」や「矢場」などと呼ばれて民間で大流行しました。
遊興としての矢場は「大小の和弓」「的に近い距離」「座敷や椅子に座る」「景品」などの様式で、
庶民の遊戯、娯楽でした。
露天商を生業とする「的屋（てきや）」や言葉の「やばい」の語源とも言われます。

History of Yaba

From the Edo period to the Meiji and Taisho periods (the mid-18th century to the early 19th century), “Yaba” (archery ranges) appeared in places like temple and shrine grounds, as well as in entertainment districts (urban areas and nightlife districts), where people paid a fee to participate. Various types of Japanese bows were used, including the “Yokyu” (small bow), “Hankyu” (medium-sized bow), and “Daikyu” (large bow used in Kyudo). These establishments offered a pastime of shooting arrows at targets and became hugely popular in the private sector, often referred to as “Yokyu-jou” or simply “Yaba.”

As an amusement, Yaba involved features like “large and small Japanese bows,” “short distances to the target,” “sitting on tatami or chairs,” and “prizes.” It was a form of entertainment enjoyed by the common people.

The term “Tekiya” (street vendors) was used for those who made a living from these activities, and it is also believed to be the origin of the word “yabai” (meaning something dangerous or risky).

明治の広島には

当時、広島市内第一の歓楽地だった中島地区（現在、平和記念公園内）に「楊弓店（弓で的当てをする遊戯店）」の付属の建物が存在した。（明治16年（1883年）発行の商工便覧『広島諸商仕入買物案内記』に記載）

広島中央勧商場（現在、中四国で一番の繁華街/歓楽街の広島市中区新天地）に「名物の大弓屋」があり、流川口がにあった前田(屋号）、八千代座前の車山(屋号）、南入口の山中(屋号)とそれぞれの弓道場が存在した。（1949年『夕刊ひろしま』後に『中国新聞』に1961年2月まで連載『がんす横丁』に記載）

Kyudo in Meiji-era Hiroshima

There used to be a Kyudo hall in Nakajima District, the busy downtown hub of Hiroshima, in the present day Peace Memorial Park.
※Published in ”Hiroshima Shoshou Siire Kaimono Annnaiki” (Hiroshima business and shopping directory), 1883
In the Hiroshima Central Merchant’s District (now known as Hiroshima’s busiest shopping and entertainment area in the Naka Ward, Shintenchi), there was a famous “large bow shop.” Kyudo dojos could be found at several locations, such as Maeda (near the entrance of the Nagarekawa district), Kurayama (near the Yachiyo Theater), and Yamanaka (at the southern entrance).
※Published in ”Yukan Hiroshima” (Evening Paper) 1949 and “Gansu Yokocho” series in serialized in the “Chugoku Shinbun” (News Paper) until February 1961

弓道とは

鎌倉時代には武士による弓術がありましたが、第二次世界大戦終戦後に現在の弓道へ移り変わりました。現代武道とも言われ「弓道」の歴史は比較的浅いです。

現在、弓道家の大多数は全日本弓道連盟が制定する審査規定で称号段位を授与されます。また全日本弓道連盟が定めた射法があり、伝統流派に属している弓道家は少ないです。

弓道で多く使用される弓は大弓とも言われ、36㎝の的を28メートルの距離から立って射ります。和弓の取扱いは難しく、未経験者が矢を放ち、28メートル先の的に当たるようになるには、 半年以上の時間が必要な場合もあります。弓道経験が何十年あっても全ての矢を的に当てることはできません。

What is Kyudo?

In the Kamakura period(1185-1333), archery was practiced by samurai as a martial art. However, after the end of World War II, it transitioned into the modern form of Kyudo, which is considered a contemporary martial art. The history of Kyudo, therefore, is relatively short.

Today, most Kyudo practitioners are awarded ranks and titles based on the examination criteria established by the All Japan Kyudo Federation (AJKF). The AJKF also defines the “shooting methods” for Kyudo, and very few practitioners belong to traditional schools of archery.

The bow commonly used in Kyudo is called the “Daikyu”, or large bow. Practitioners shoot at a 36 cm target from a distance of 28 meters while standing. Handling the Japanese bow is difficult, and for an inexperienced person to hit a target from 28 meters away, it can take six months or more of training. Even after decades of practice, it is not guaranteed that every arrow will hit the target.

弓道関連先のご紹介　Kyudo-Related Websites

全日本弓道連盟　All Japan Kyudo Federation　https://www.kyudo.jp/

国際弓道連盟　International Kyudo Federation　https://www.ikyf.org/

全日本弓道具協会　All Nippon Kyudogu Association　http://kyudogu.jp/

全日本学生弓道連盟　All Nippon University Kyudo Federation　https://www.pac-mice.jp/zennichi/

全国高等学校体育連盟弓道専門部　All Japan High School Athletic Federation Kyudo Division　https://kyudo-zenkoku.com/

広島県高体連弓道専門部　Hiroshima Prefecture High School Archery Association　https://www.hihi-kyudo.com/

広島市弓道連盟　Hiroshima City Archery Federation　https://hiroshimashi-kyudo.jp/

呉市弓道連盟　Kure City Archery Federation　https://kure-kyudo.com/

福山市弓道連盟　Fukuyama City Archery Federation　http://kyudo-fukuyama.jp/

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