Formation of Kyudo as a Budo: Inventing Traditional Culture in Modern Japan
Abstract
Kyudo (弓道), the way of the bow, as we know it today, began to take its form at the start of the modern era. Formerly called kyujutsu (弓術), the term kyudo which emphasizes spiritual cultivation, and its perception as budo (武道) became the standard as of the 1920s. At approximately the same time, the integration of kyujutsu schools, establishment of kyudojo (kyudo hall), standardization of tournament rules, establishment of a grading system, implementation in schools, and participation of women and foreigners began to be seen.
Currently, kyudo is widely practiced as a “traditional” physical culture. Indeed, many of its cultural elements are based on kyujutsu before the early modern period. However, most of the kyudo culture seen today has been changed or newly created to suit the modern society after the Meiji Restoration. Then, how was kyudo formed in the modern era?
This seminar aims to discuss the formation of kyudo in modern Japan. Being multi-layered and complex is a characteristic of Japanese culture, and kyudo is also composed by incorporating various elements on top of kyujutsu. Therefore, there are multiple viewpoints when discussing the formation of kyudo. This seminar will focus on the “formation of kyudo as a budo.” The formation of kyudo will be presented in relation to the invention of the traditional culture of budo in modern Japan.
About the Speaker
Tomotsugu Goka is an assistant professor at International Budo University, Chiba, Japan. He is teaching at the Faculty of Physical Education. His main areas of research are History of Sports, Physical Education and Budo. He obtained his PhD at University of Tsukuba, Doctoral Program in Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences in 2021. The title of his PhD thesis is “A historical study of the formation of Kyudo in the modern era.” He is a board member of the Japanese Academy of Budo, and an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Sport and Health Science.
