This photo corresponds with Episode 3 of the Savage Japan Podcast. Episode 3 can be heard here at SavageJapan.com or here at SavageSnowPodcast.com.

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This shot of a kyudo archer’s perspective reveals how small the 36 cm wide targets appear 29 meters in the distance.

Unlike western archery where larger targets are used and higher value is placed on hitting closer to the center, in kyudo there are only 2 descriptions used to define the accuracy of a shot, hit or miss.

As it has been explained to me, even in competition there is no significance placed on hitting a target closer to its center, though I suspect Japanese kyudo archers are at least quietly satisfied with themselves when their shots land closer to the center of these very small targets.

Japan Photo Journal – Living in Japan
Dan Savage [Email]

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