Vowing to improve with the bow in the New Year! Novice archery meeting at Prince Hill Park, Ōtsu

Translated from the original article at: http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120104-00000015-san-l25

(Distributed by the Sankei Newspaper on January 4th, 7:55AM)

Caption: Participants focus their gaze and ready their bows.  At the novice archery event of Prince Hill Park in Ōtsu city (Picture: Sankei Newspaper)

On the 3rd, the year's very first novice archery event was held, with participants vowing to improve their skills.  Held at Prince Hill Park of Ōtsu city, archery enthusiasts gathered. Transfixed on their target and about to release their bows, a sense of the new was in the air.

The novice archery meeting is a traditional event of the New Year. An open exhibition held each year by the prefecture's archery federation; the event appeared to be thriving. This year, wearing short sleeved kimonos, 83 young adults, experienced practitioners and others participated.

First, 10 people lined up in a single row. Using the standard for these events, a 36 inch diameter target from 28 meters away, participants were challenged to aim and release their arrow in a graceful movement.

Afterwards, the Chinese zodiac of the dragon was drawn on folding fans and the targets for additional entertainment. From within the venue, depending on the accuracy of the arrow's landing, cheers from spectators arose.

Among the participants, the youngest is a first year archery club member of the Ōtsu commercial school of Minamishiga, Ōtsu city. Yagi Yuusei (Age 15) said: "The difference from the school club with all of the spectators had me feeling nervous. At this year's event, I will do my best to get good results."

Original Text

新年に弓の上達誓う！皇子が丘公園で「初射会」　大津

産経新聞 1月4日(水)7時55分配信

初射会で参加者は真剣な眼差しで弓を引いた＝大津市の皇子が丘公園（写真：産経新聞）

今年最初の矢を射って弓道の上達を誓う「初射会」が３日、大津市の皇子が丘公園で開かれ、集まった弓道愛好家らは、真剣なまなざしで弓を引き、気持ちを新たにしていた。

初射会は新春の伝統行事。県弓道連盟が毎年開催し、にぎわいをみせている。今年は振り袖を着た新成人や熟練者など８３人が参加した。

始めに１０人１列に並び、通常の大会で使う直径３６センチの的を２８メートル離れて狙う「一手謝礼」に挑戦。

その後、干支・辰の絵を描いた的や扇子を狙う余興もあり、会場からは矢が的中する度に歓声が上がっていた。

参加者の中で最年少だった大津市南志賀の大津商業高弓道部１年、八木祐星さん（１５）は「部活と違ってたくさんの観客がいて緊張した。今年は大会でいい成績を出せるように頑張ります」と話していた。