Third-year student defeats 47 rivals in kyuhdo competition

May 17, 2013

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Daisuke Ohtsuka, a third-year student in the College of Health and Welfare and a member of the university’s kyuhdoh club, won the Hyakushakai archery tournament at Meiji Shrine on May 5. The annual tournament attracts students from 48 universities throughout Tokyo, with each university allowed just one entrant. Ohtsuka beat the 47 other competitors by hitting the target with 94 of his 100 arrows. Furthermore, by hitting the target on 39 consecutive shots, Ohtsuka took home the special prize awarded to those who hit the target on 36 or more consecutive shots—the only competitor to receive the prize.

This competition lasts more than eight-and-a-half hours, requiring excellent powers of concentration and endurance. After being selected to compete as J. F. Oberlin University’s representative, Ohtsuka trained for about two months, practicing long hours on Saturdays and Sundays. He had dreamed of taking part in the Hyakushakai since watching it as a first-year student, and he went into the competition with a strong desire to win it for J. F. Oberlin.

Ohtsuka commented, “I’m happy to have won the tournament, but at the same time I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t improve on my score of 95 out of 100 in our kyuhdoh club’s qualifiying tournament.”