2025年4月10日（木）、午前10時ごろに起きた。昼ごろに家を出て、弓道の練習をした。
訪れたのは、神奈川県逗子市にある弓道場。私にとって、ここで練習するのは今日が初めてだった。この弓道場は珍しいつくりをしており、屋根がない。今日は強風が不規則に吹きつけ、ときおり雨が降った。弓道の道具は水に弱いため、雨が降ると練習が中断した。
そんな状況であったけれども、私はここがとても好きになった。いっしょに練習した人たちが皆、親切だったからだ。練習時の規則は緩すぎず厳しすぎず。何より、弓道場のすぐ横で咲いていた桜がとても美しかった。練習中に桜がよく見えるのは、屋外の弓道場ならではの魅力だ。
練習後、私は鎌倉駅で途中下車した。鶴岡八幡宮の参道「若宮大路」は桜で彩られ、多くの観光客が写真を撮っていた。
On Thursday, April 10th, 2025, I got up around 10:00 a.m. and left home to go to Japanese archery practice.
I visited a dojo in Zushi City, Kanagawa, and it was my first time practicing there. This dojo is unique because it has no roof. A strong wind blew against my body and bow, and it rained on and off. Since kyudo equipment—especially the glove (kake)—is sensitive to water, we had to stop practicing whenever it started raining.
That said, I really came to like the dojo. First of all, everyone I practiced with was friendly and polite. Secondly, the rules were not too strict. And finally, the cherry blossoms along the dojo were in full bloom, and I could see them clearly from where I was shooting. That was a huge benefit of practicing outdoors.
After practice, I got off the train at Kamakura Station and strolled around the area between the station and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, one of the most famous tourist spots in the city. Wakamiya-Oji, the approach to the shrine, was lined with cherry blossoms, and many travelers, including myself, were taking pictures of them.