Samurai Stirrups
The earliest stirrups were developed in China around 2,000 years ago, in conjunction with the saddles they were suspended from.
They were a triangular or roughly circular ring, usually with a flatter or wider lower part. The modern equestrian stirrup still follows the same basic shape.
The use of stirrups spread from China across Asia to Japan and Europe, and by the Nara period (710 ~ 794 CE) had developed into the Tsubo Abumi cup-shaped stirrup.
Further development led to the Han-shita Abumi half-base and Naga-shita Abumi long-base stirrups, in which the foot is placed in the stirrups from the side rather than from the back.
These innovations happened only in Japan, the reasons are not known. They provided some armoured protection for the foot and suited saddles and straps made of silk and cord rather than leather. It could also be for safety reasons, allowing the rider to fall clear of the horse rather than being dragged by the stirrups.
In any case, they came to be known as Samurai Stirrups and with the Meiji Restoration western-style stirrups were adopted in Japan.
You can still see these Samurai stirrups in use by horseback archers at Yabusame displays, at which galloping riders shoot at targets along the side of the path.
The biggest Yabusame event in the Tokyo area is held during April at the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa-ken.
Yabusame events are also held in Takadanobaba in October and Meiji Jingu in November.
