Shingen Archery Dojo

The **Shingen Archery Dojo** (真弦しんげん流 弓道場, *Shingen-ryū kyūdō-jō*, lit. Solemn Style Archery Place) is a *kyūdō dōjō* in the Juichimi District, Tokyo.

## Overview

The Shingen Archery Dojo is a small traditional kyudojo. It consists of a single *shajo* (shooting hall) which open to the *yamichi* (arrow pathway), a well-trimmed lawn. On the other side of the pathway is the *matoba* (target house); the *mato* (the cylindrical wood-framed targets) are placed in the target house's *azuchi* (target bank).

The *yamichi* is fenced with chain-wire, and a net was hung high across the courtyard, likely to catch wayward arrows that were shot too high. The chain-wire fence also protects the *yatori-michi* (arrow retrieval path).

In the shooting hall is the *hikae* (waiting area) with multiple folding chairs. Targets, bows, and arrows are kept in the *shajo*.

## History

At some point, the dojo was founded by the Nakamae family and has been in the family ever since. Some of the family's members became instructors at the dojo.

### Invisible Blood Letter Murder Case

*Main article: Invisible Blood Letter Murder Case*
Toto and Ron visit Amamiya at the Shingen Archery Dojo. Ron used to practice *kyūdō* and now wants to do it again; he is, thus, looking for a dojo. They are greeted by the instructor Mayumi Nakamae who allows them to observe her pupils Shu Kotegawa, Akane Saien, and Mikio Toban practice.

During the practice, a cat runs into the dojo. She has run away from her owners, Sabatora Nora, the district "detective," was hired to catch her. The practice is put on hold so that he can retrieve the cat. Nakamae is not very happy about Nora's and the cat's presence as the dojo prides itself for not having had any incidents or accidents since her grandfather's generation.

The next day, Kotegawa was found dead in the dojo by Saien who came to clean at 7 a.m. An arrow pierced his vertebrae; he died of asphyxia due to the damage sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight.

Furthermore, there will be a tournament soon. Nakamae is set to perform a dance during the opening ceremony, and Kotegawa was set to be the *ochi* (last shooter in the group) because he would be able to withstand the pressure which comes with this position.

## Known staff

* Mayumi Nakamae's unnamed grandfather
* Mayumi Nakamae's unnamed father
* Mayumi Nakamae (instructor (*kyōshi*))

## Known pupils and members

* Akane Saien
* Amamiya
* Mikio Toban
* Shu Kotegawa †

## References

1. ↑ "Kyudo: Way Of The Bow - Part 2" — Fighting Arts
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, page 2
3. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, page 13
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, page 7
5. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, pages 2-15
6. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, page 17
7. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, pages 19-20
8. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 61, page 2
9. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 61, pages 16-17
10. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, page 13
11. ↑ *Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective* manga; Chapter 60, page 9