Young people wearing traditional kimono have shot their first arrows of the year in a New Year's archery event at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

The Sanjusangendo temple hosted the event on Sunday. The annual ritual dates back to the 12th to 19th centuries when many archers are said to have demonstrated their prowess in contests.

The event featured about 100 young people around the age of 20. Women wearing colorful kimono and men clad in traditional hakama clothing lined up in groups of eight and took aim at one-meter diameter targets set 60 meters away.

A 20-year-old woman from Kyoto City said she was happy to be able to shoot an arrow in the temple's event in which she had long wanted to participate.

She expressed hope that she will become the kind of adult who could take full responsibility.