Horseback archeries, yabusame, inu-oi and kasagake, formed the "great trio" of riding sports. The practice seemed to have begun in Kamakura period (1185-1336) as means of encouraging proficiency in mounted archery. A participant of yabusame is to shoot three square targets placed at intervals while riding at the full gallop. This emakimono depicts the scenes of spectators arriving at the shrine ground, a usual venue for the game, waiting of the riders in traditional costumes, grooms with horses, and jurors, a group of monks and priests, ladies shielded by bamboo screens and a rider about to shoot a target.


Kano Tomonobu's first artist name was Shuntei. He used this name till 1787 when he took up his father's name and became known as Shunsho III. It can be assumed therefore that this emakimono was executed before 1787