Track 1
Static
“Testing, testing, Muu speaking. Dyo you copy, over.”
“Daddy speaking. Congratulations on your first transmission, Muneuji……”
Kaguya Household – Kyudo Hall
*Muneuji shoots*
…WH-WHOAAAAAA~~!!!! 4 STRAIGHT BULLSEYES IN A ROW, YOU’RE CRACKED~~!
…All of them, hit dead center…!
That’s really amazing, Muneuji-kun…!
A perfect score like this is nothing for Muu-chan. Wouldn’t you say, Panda?
…Can you stop calling me out like that? Also, you’re talking like you’re the one who pulled it off.
Huh? As someone who’s learned before, I can if I want to. But before that, maybe you should stop sneaking glances at a certain someone’s kyudo1 uniform—
*exhale*…
Great job, Muneuji-kun! Thanks for the demonstration! Seeing it done in person is really something else.
You flatter me. However, I, too, still have much to learn.
I was able to concentrate… and do my best hitting the targets today because I wished to serve as a proper example for all of you who have taken an interest in kyudo.
But still, that took some incredible concentration.
Your posture, and the way you held the bow… without wavering at all… was seriously amazing.
You’re the incarnation of Nasu no Raichi2 himself! I mean, I knew your family’s cracked at kyudo, but you’re even more cracked than I imagined, Muneuji!
(I think he meant, Nasu no Yoichi…)
You get it. We should’ve came here sooner.
Straight facts! We definitely made the right choice to come along for the ride when Teach said he was doing a visit! This was too good to miss!
*nods* …I’m glad, we got to… observe today.
Opening the gates and spreading the spirit of the bow is the duty of our Kaguya School of Kyudo. It is an honour to receive such praises from everyone.
You are always welcome to come for a visit, or experience the art for yourselves.
Hearing this makes me want to try… But can a beginner like me even shoot properly?
Fear not. There is a saying in kyudo that goes “a true shot never misses.”
A true missile shot?
A true shot never misses. It means that an arrow shot with correct form shall never miss the target.
So what you’re saying is… as long as you master the form, you’re pretty much guaranteed a 100% hit rate!?
But isn’t mastering the form the hard part? Like, that’s the actual challenge…
Well, duh? This conversation is too stupid it’s hurting my brain… Also, the point of kyudo isn’t just to hit the target.
R-Really?
Indeed. Hitting the target is a means, not an end.
The fundamental ethos of kyudo are truth, goodness, and beauty. Truth is to aim for shooting each arrow correctly.
Aiming for the truth… That’s kinda dope…!
Then… what about, goodness?
Goodness is to be calm. It conveys the act of facing yourself and training your mind to maintain a collected disposition.
Oh, now I get it. No wonder why you’re always so calm.
What’s the last one again… beauty? If it’s last, does that mean it’s some sorta ultimate, secret technique!?
Mm, correct.
Jackpot!
R-Really…!?
Hold it. Muu-chan, stop giving him the benefit of the doubt.
That’s not it. Beauty lies in both truth and goodness, so it would not be far-fetched to call it the ultimate art.
By pursuing truth, one will acquire a correct shooting form, and by pursuing goodness, one will cultivate an unwavering and courteous mind.
Therefore, through mastering both, one will naturally come to exude beauty. In other words, kyudo also represents a world of beauty.
A world of, beauty… So that’s why… it feels like, a painting…
You know how kyudo means the way of the bow? As a Japanese person, you should at least be able to relate it to mannerism then.3
(Kurama looks proud of himself.)
I’m honestly amazed… There’s more to kyudo than I expected…!
Just listening to my explanation is fine, but it is better to experience it yourself. Chief, would you like to try your hand at shooting?
Yeah! Please guide me.
Shoot it right down the middle, Teach! I’mma film the moment when your aura goes off the charts!
Akuta-kun, you’re setting the bar way too high…!
Now then, as you shoot, try to recount the eight stages of shooting.4 I will check them one by one.
O-Okay!
(The eight stages of shooting… That’s what Muneuji-kun walked us through before he demonstrated it.)
(Let’s see… First, I should arrange my stance, then adjust my posture…)
Try putting power into your tanden…5 the area below your belly button, and focus on placing your center of gravity in the middle of the body.
Oooh~! Your stance is looking good, the vibez I’m getting are insane!
Yeah, just the way you’re standing makes you look so… cool. Maybe the chief has a knack for this…
No matter how you look at it, that’s definitely the sloppy form of a beginner.
You’re… probably nervous, but… good luck…
Next, readying the bow.
(Place my right hand on the bowstring, then adjust the grip on the bow in my left hand…)
To set your gaze, view the center of the target with your right eye…
(Without moving my head, or blinking…)
Calmly raise both fists up to the same height and draw the string slowly.
*draws bowstring*
…That looks… tiring.
Only ‘cause he’s putting too much power into it. Look, he’s shaking.
For the full draw, let your consciousness sink as you fill yourself with power and air.
*exhale*…
And when the moment feels right, release.
(Now!)
*Kaede shoots*
(The final step is zanshin. After shooting the arrow, maintain focus and watch where it hits—)
*Plop*
H-Huh!?
Wooow, sucks to suck. It didn’t even reach the target.
Huuuuh~!? I was getting some great footage too! Teach, you gotta make sure to do it right ‘til the end!
Uue, sorry…
Uu-chan, Isotake. The chief was conscious of every single action he took and that fact alone is commendable. You should not laugh.
Even you were a beginner with the bow at one point, Uu-chan. You used to have such a hard time just drawing the bowstring that your face turned beet red—
W-We don’t need to talk about that…!
I could tell how focused you were just from watching you, Chief. You looked really serious and… p-pretty cool.
Ahaha, thanks for the vote of confidence, Nanaki-kun. You’re too kind.
B-But I really mean it…
(If anything, I kinda wanna take that arrow home with me…)
You did, great, Chief… Just pulling the bowstring, already looked… really tough.
Yeah, trying it myself made me realize how amazing Muneuji-kun is.
*Door slides open*
Sorry to interrupt, everyone~
Oh, Sachie-san. …Everyone, this is our housekeeper.
Hello, nice to meet you all.
Thank you for having us. And I’m sorry for dropping in on such short notice.
Not at all, sorry to keep you waiting. The main house is ready now, so I came to bring you along.
I see. In that case, let us tidy up here and be on our way.
Kaguya Household – Living Room
Whoa… the inside of your house is also insane… Like, it totally gives Kaguya samurai clan vibes, or like royalty, y’know?!
Hey, can I take a pic? I wanna try doing the “Blasphemy! We’re in the palace!”6 thing!
There is no need to be so reserved, feel free to make yourself at home.
But this is a really impressive home. So this is where you grew up, Muneuji-kun.
Indeed. It also serves as Uu-chan’s second home.
I-I guess you could say that. I used to come here to play a lot when I was little.
—Muneuji, is everyone here?
Mother.
Nice to meet you again, Ma’am. I’m Kaede Hamasaki from HAMA Tours.
I was planning to visit alone today, but I brought over a large group instead… I hope that’s alright…!
Muneuji-kun volunteered to be the main host for our upcoming featured tour… and honestly we can’t thank him enough for doing that.
Oh my, Chief, please, there’s no need for all that. We should be the ones thanking you for always taking care of our son…!
Oh no, not at all! Muneuji-kun is always the one helping us out!
Oh no, but the pleasure is all ours…! Thank you for always looking after him in both work and his everyday life…!
No no, really, it’s the least we can do!
Adults sure like to have pointless conversations.
Mother, Chief. Let us put the formalities behind us. Otherwise, there will be no end to this.
Oh! S-Sorry…!
Y-You’re right…!
In addition, there is nothing to worry about regarding the feature tour.
After all, the subhost will be none other than my childhood friend, Uu-chan.
Well, it’s as he says. I’ll be the subhost, so leave him to me, Auntie.
Oh my, really now! I’ll leave Muneuji in your care then, Uu-kun.
Yeah.
And everyone from the Noon Team as well, thank you for coming over to play today. Are you boys hungry?
Yes ma’am! All of us are starved TO THE MAX!
Hey, Akuta…
Hehe, that’s good to hear. I’ve prepared some of my specialty extra sweet stew, so eat as much as you’d like. That goes for you too, Chief.
But we couldn’t possibly impose on you for lunch after you’ve let us experience kyudo…!
Her extra sweet stew is delicious. I am excited for you all to try it.
You guys should brace yourselves, the sweetness is no joke.
I’ve already made the stew, so please, don’t be shy.
Alright, thank you for your kindness. We really appreciate it.
In that case, Sachie-san and I will go and prepare the plates. We’ll be right back.
*Muneuji’s mother leaves*
I feel bad for making your mother go through so much trouble…
She has been excited about wanting to meet you again. Besides, this is our house, so you don’t have to feel so troubled.
Thank you. I hope she’ll also feel reassured about the feature tour.
I’ve put in a good word that Uu-chan will be the subhost, so there is no need to worry.
(With Muneuji-kun and Ushio-kun teaming up, I know things will be just fine. If this helped put his mother’s mind at ease, then I’m glad…!)
By the way, Muneuji-kun. Have you decided on the location for the study tour?
Indeed. What do you think of Tanegashima?
I heard they have plans for a space launch soon. Seeing one in person would be a once in a lifetime experience.
Works for me.
A space launch? Sounds great! Then let’s go with that.
Wonderful. I already have a few places in mind starting with the Tanegashima Space Centre.
You’ve compiled them already?
In my head at least. They are all candidates for now.
Could you tell me what you’ve got in mind? That way, I can suggest places that you haven’t already thought of.
Mm, in that case—
Elsewhere in the House
Nanaki, look look! The garden is also super duper big, like the wabi sabi7 vibes are going wild! And they even have that thing that goes thonk!
The one going thonk is called shishi-odoshi.8 Feels like the vibe is something Natsume-san would like.
*looks around*……
Kiroku, what’s wrong? You’ve been shuffling since earlier.
Oh… Um… I was just wondering… if Kaguya’s little sister, was around…
Ahh, the little princess, right? The girl that comes over to HAMA House to play sometimes…
AH! Wait if she’s the princess of the Kaguya family… THEN SHE’S PRINCESS KAGUYA!?9
You’re just realizing this now…?
Does that mean she’s gonna go back to the moon someday!?
…If the moon messengers, come… we’ll help Kaguya… drive them away…
…Hey. Isn’t that her? That kid peeking at us from the entrance.
Huh?
Ah…
Princess! C’mere! Let’s brainstorm together what we’ll do if a moon messenger comes~!
I… I-I… *sniffles*!
Hm?
Wh-What’s wrong? Wait, is she about to cry…!?
…Did something, happen?
Ueeu… uueue…!
…Erm, does anyone have a tissue?
WHAAAAAAHH! I’M SORRYYYYYYYYYY!
Kyudo, also known as "the way of the bow" is the Japanese martial art of archery. It is a traditional discipline that uses the Japanese bow for both recreation and sport, as well as the training of body, mind, and spirit. https://www.ikyf.org/.
Akuta messed up the name of the samurai Nasu no Yoichi. Nasu no Yoichi was a famous samurai who fought alongside the Minamoto clan during the Genpei war. He was known for his archery prowess especially during the Battle of Yashima, where despite riding on a horse in the sea and the target being on a rocking ship and 250 feet away, he was able to land a clean, single shot that restored the morale of the army.
The kanji 道 (do; the Way) from 弓道 (kyudo), in a traditional sense, refers to mannerism, ritual practices, etiquette, or a certain path one takes to refine oneself of those concepts and is what Ushio is referring to.
The eight stages of shooting (shaho hassetsu) is the division of the process of shooting in kyudo. It is composed of Ashibumi, Dozukuri, Yugamae, Uchiokoshi, Hikiwake, Kai, Hanare, and Zanshin. The entire process is regarded together as one cycle that should be continuous. For more information about the individual steps: https://www.ikyf.org/shahouhassetsu.html.
The dantian, or tanden, is an important focal point for meditative and exercise techniques, martial arts, and is often used in traditional Chinese medicine (Wikipedia).
This is a reference to a line in the famous kabuki story, Chūshingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers). During the Edo period, it was forbidden to draw swords within Edo castle and this line was recited by a character to remind others of this fact. It has become a popular reference in media.
Wabi Sabi is the appreciation of the transient beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete in the physical world. https://chikaeoh.com/journal/a-beginners-guide-to-wabi-sabi.
A shishi-odoshi is a Japanese garden feature where a bamboo tube fills with water, tips to release it, and strikes a surface to create a "thonking" sound. It was originally used to scare animals like deer from the garden, but now it’s valued for its beauty and calming effect in Japanese garden.
Princess Kaguya, or Kaguya-hime, is the main character from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (a classic Japanese folktale) said to hail from the moon. She was sent to Earth and near the end of the story, messengers from the moon come to inform her that she must return back to the moon. There is a good Ghibli adaptation of this story.