Where We Call Home.

Yabusame - a thousand-year-old tradition.

One man moved to Japan to practice this time-honored archery ritual.

Michael No, from Australia.

Right away, I knew I had to do it.

"Good morning!"

He finds time in his busy work schedule...

...to foster relationships of trust with the horses.

As we spend time together,
we build bonds.

This autumn, Michael plays an important role in a prestigious Yabusame ceremony.

I don't want this long-standing ceremony
to fail because of me.

I feel the pressure.

Will Michael rise to the challenge?

Let's tag along to find out!

The city of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture.

With historical buildings like the sumptuous Nikko Toshogu Shrine and beautiful natural scenery,

the region attracts some nine million sightseers yearly from in and out of Japan.

One popular tourist spot is Michael's workplace.

Open the gate!

Come in and enjoy!

It's a cultural theme park that recreates Japan in the Edo era.

A costumed cast of characters takes visitors back in time to 17th-century Japan.

For ten years now, Michael has been working here in sales and promotion.

Today, a meeting is held to call in foreign tourists to an upcoming event.

Do potential visitors get information
from the Singapore travel association?

We need to pique their interest.

What does Michael's supervisor think of him?

He's proactive.

In his presentations,
he's great at inspiring others.

He's invaluable to planning and sales.

- He's cool when he does Yabusame.
- Not as a promoter?

Michael was born in Melbourne, Australia...

...to a Korean father and an Australian mother.

However...

After their divorce and other things,
I hung out with the wrong crowd.

Realizing he had to make a change, he decided to leave Australia.

Then, in 2010, he came to Japan for sightseeing.

That's when he discovered Yabusame.

'This is it!' I thought.

I wanted to do Yabusame,
but I was sure...

it was impossible for
a non-Japanese like me.

The origin of Yabusame dates back a thousand years.

It's said to have begun as archery training for imperial guards.

It later evolved into a religious ritual where archers on horseback shoot three targets.

Imparted into the arrows are prayers for peace and abundant harvest.

First, it was the horses.
I was impressed to see them running.

And seeing the riders letting go
of the reins to shoot was amazing.

Michael was convinced that only Japanese could be part of this venerable tradition.

But, when he knocked on the door of a school with more than eight hundred years of history, he was welcomed.

Basic training starts with mastering the posture needed to shoot from horseback.

Learners practice archery and how to maintain the right stance, as well as the proper form and etiquette.

Michael's earnest and sincere attitude has earned him the trust of his fellow Yabusame archers.

The point is whether it's necessary
to be Japanese to do this.

I don't think it is.

The most important is one's mindset
and attitude toward the ritual.

Michael is doing this in earnest.

Michael has been practicing Yabusame for a decade.

This year, he's been given an especially important role.

It'll be for a ceremony at Nikko Toshogu.

This shrine is devoted to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who brought 260 years of peace to Japan.

It's on these sacred historical grounds that Michael will ride as "ichi-no-ite," the first archer in the ceremony.

It'll be on such a large scale,
and to be the first to ride...

the "ichi-no-ite," makes me
even more nervous.

Yabusame was a turning point in Michael's life.

Over the years, he's been putting a lot of effort into bonding with the horses,

something that's indispensable to successfully and safely conduct the ceremony.

Yabusame requires letting go of the reins to shoot.

For this, mutual trust between horse and rider is a must.

We bond with the horse
so it'll cooperate.

It's crucial for the horse to feel safe,
and to know we can trust each other.

Archer and mount must become one.

This requires patience and dedication.

Because of his passionate devotion to caring for the horses, Michael was assigned an additional task.

Nikko Toshogu is famous for its bas-relief depicting three monkeys in iconic poses.

It adorns the walls of a traditional stable.

In Japanese folklore, monkeys are seen as guardians for horses.

It's where "shinme" - divine horses - are consecrated.

It's a practice that started with the shrine's founding four centuries ago

to honor the steed Ieyasu rode during a decisive battle to unify Japan.

Michael has been tasked by the shrine to tend to these shinme - the blessed mounts of the gods.

This one is named Komaru.

This short cut suits him.

And this other one will be officially consecrated and renamed during the upcoming event.

Nowadays, the "shinme" are kept at these horse breeding stables near the shrine.

Michael also raises and manages the horses that will take part in Yabusame.

As the big day approaches, selecting the mounts for the ritual worries him.

They have to be in good condition.

If you ask me how many horses
are ready for Yabusame...

I'd say two.

Some of the others are old
or have had injuries.

Another of Michael's responsibilities is to manage the horses that will come from other stables for Yabusame.

Ono Kazuhito is his colleague and senior.

He's been watching over Michael's earnest efforts with hopeful anticipation.

The Yabusame of Ogasawara is a tradition
that's more than 800 years old.

Michael was appointed a Yabusame archer
of the Ogasawara school.

He was recognized by the school's head.

- Pressure!
- Yes.

The first archer opens for the others.

They count on me.

Michael heads to a building at his workplace after business is closed for the day.

He does the final training in preparation for the ceremony at Nikko Toshogu.

It's the theme park's Yabusame exhibit hall - the perfect place to better ready himself mentally.

I have to continue improving.

After all these years, I mustn't let
my form and skill deteriorate.

I feel I've been putting
more pressure on myself.

I wouldn't want this long tradition
to fail because of me.

The day before the ceremony.

From nearby riding clubs, other Yabusame horses arrive.

This eases some of the burden on the horses under Michael's care.

And, in a storeroom near the stable...

...the riding equipment and ceremonial implements are being prepared.

In the afternoon, as the rain stops, the team heads to the site of the ritual.

This is the only time they get to rehearse on location.

It's a runway set up along the approach to the shrine.

To give their mounts a warm-up, they pick up speed.

They also get a single opportunity to shoot at the targets.

This is the final practice before the ceremony.

Tomorrow's a big day.
I've never been the first rider before.

I have to do this right.

The rehearsal is over.

The day of the ceremony has come.

Michael is busy getting ready.

So much to do!

First, the mounts are groomed and dressed.

The horse to be consecrated as "shinme" too is prepared.

No, that's not it.

A bit of difficulty putting on the costume.

After making sure the other horses too are just about ready...

...Michael finally gets to prepare.

He'll be using arrows fashioned after those that were actually used for hunting.

They're beautiful.

Copper pheasant
and golden eagle feathers.

Three hours remaining.

The archers head to the shrine on horseback.

Before the Yabusame performance, Michael takes part in the ceremony for the new "shinme."

He stands by the newly consecrated horse, named Kohaku.

The Yabusame ceremony was first held at Nikko Toshogu in 1953.

It was to raise the spirits of Japanese people as they worked to rebuild the nation after World War II.

With pandemic restrictions now lifted,

this is the first time in four years that the autumn ceremony is held.

Michael and the other riders make their entrance in traditional costumes that recreate the attire of huntsmen of old.

On this prestigious stage that is Nikko Toshogu shrine,

Michael opens the ritual as the "Ichi-no-Ite" for the first time since he started learning Yabusame.

It's here - the moment he's been preparing for.

Michael hit all three targets.

Archers who achieve this feat receive a special award called "roku."

My mind's a blank.
I can't find the right words.

At first, Yabusame simply looked 'cool.'
That was the main appeal I found in it.

But with time, I discovered its depth and
the tradition of the Ogasawara school.

I can enjoy it more and more.

Now with ten years of experience under his belt,

Michael continues to deepen his appreciation for the tradition of Yabusame.

Hi! I'm Tantely Rasoanjanahary.
I work in Hiroshima.

Our company makes rice-milling machinery.
Let me show you my work!

Saijo, Higashihiroshima City.

Rice-milling technology developed
in this sake producing area.

Tantely works
at this food machinery maker.

8:20 a.m.
arriving
at work

They design and build production lines
for milling rice and other food processing.

They have clients in 150 countries.

"Our duty is to see that the company and the employees mutually prosper..."

Tantely works in the design department.

She's currently designing
a maize processing plant.

From selecting the machinery to
deciding its placement, I do everything.

I also design how the chutes that connect
the machines are arranged.

She makes a 3D plan
of the overall configuration.

These two parts need to be connected.
So, I add in what we call an elbow joint.

And finally...

when I do a rendering,
we can see it's neatly connected.

A 3D plan like this makes it much faster
to install the machinery on site.

It's like playing with Lego.

She has her supervisor check the plan.

Isn't this part supported?

Does it need support?

It needs to be supported with a stand
or braces on the machinery.

They check the parts
at the in-house model plant.

Maybe a stand like this
placed on the floor.

This, too.

The support is often determined
during installation.

But either way, it needs support.

Keep that in mind when designing.

I didn't know the first thing about
machinery and plants when I joined.

But seeing actual examples
of installations like this...

makes the design work much easier.

Based on her 3D plan, engineers create
working drawings to build the installation.

This is Otani-san, our manager.

Our company is expanding
onto the African market.

So, Tantely is a great help.

She still has much to learn.

She often needs to ask others what to do.
It shows her lack of experience.

Otani-san always offers advice.
It helps me a lot.

She's a fast learner.

If she keeps making fewer mistakes,
she'll be a great designer.

I'll do my best.

Tantely grew up in Madagascar's
capital, the city of Antananarivo.

In her teens, she studied
Japanese and loved it.

In 2017, she did graduate studies in
developmental aid at Hiroshima University.

In 2019, she joined this firm
to learn rice-milling tech.

- Hi! Let's give it our best.
- Yes.

Today, a group of representatives
from African countries visit the company.

- "In a very short time. High efficiency."
- "Great technology."

Is there anything smaller,
more accessible?

More accessible and easy to use?

The market for rice in Madagascar is big,
but the technology is lacking.

We want to introduce Japanese technology.

When Tantely studied in Japan,
her 2-year-old son stayed in Madagascar.

I kept thinking of him every day.

But I knew we'd find a way
to be together eventually.

This is my treasure.

My graduation at Hiroshima University.

I had just brought my son Hasina
over to Japan to join me.

Hasina is now 8 years old,
and lives with his mother in Japan.

I hope to see...

people in Africa enjoy delicious rice.
So, I keep working hard.