Deep in the UNESCO-listed grounds of Kamigamo Shrine, the ancient warrior spirit is revived during the Musha Jinji (Warrior Archery Ritual). This high-precision event, rooted in the Heian Period, serves as a powerful Shinto purification rite to drive away evil spirits and secure peace for the community. Unlike the high-speed mounted archery seen later in the year, this ceremony focuses on stationary, meditative precision as archers from the prestigious Ogasawara-ryu school demonstrate the discipline that has defined Japanese martial arts for over 800 years.

The ritual begins with the Hikime no Gi, where Shinto priests fire specialized "whistling arrows" into the sky to capture the attention of the deities and cleanse the ritual space. Archers dressed in elaborate kariginu court robes then take turns firing volleys at large wooden targets. In a striking symbolic gesture, the back of each target is inscribed with the Japanese character for oni (demon); by successfully piercing the wood, the archers are believed to physically strike down misfortune and "slay" the negative influences of the previous year.