Kyudo Dan, Kyu, and Title System
April 27, 2026
The Kyudo ranking system is awarded by the ANKF, comprising 5 Kyu, 10 Dan, and 3 titles: Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi. This article outlines the structure and history.
The Kyudo ranking system is examined and awarded by the All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF). It consists of Kyu, Dan, and Titles. Kyu is for beginners, Dan for experienced practitioners, and Titles for those demonstrating teaching and technical excellence.
Documented in the ANKF Examination Regulations, this system governs all official Kyudo exams in Japan. Kyu and Dan exams are hosted by prefectural federations, while Title exams are hosted directly by the ANKF.
Kyu (Class)
There are 5 Kyu grades: 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Kyu. It is a stepping stone to Dan grades, aimed at students or adult beginners. Exams are held locally, granting a 'Certificate of Success' rather than a diploma.
Dan (Degree)
There are 10 Dan grades, from 1st to 10th Dan. The 9th and 10th Dan are honorary and rarely awarded today; 8th Dan is practically the highest grade.
Along with practical shooting, 1st to 5th Dan exams include a written test, while 6th to 8th Dan require essays. The 8th Dan exam is held twice a year with a ~1% pass rate, making it the hardest to achieve.
According to ANKF regulations, judging is based on 'Taihai' (posture/demeanor) and 'Shaho/Shagi' (shooting technique), not just hitting the target. Even if both arrows miss, exceptional form can lead to a pass.
Titles: Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi
Titles are honorary designations beyond Dan grades: Renshi → Kyoshi → Hanshi. Practitioners must reach specific Dan thresholds to apply.
Renshi (Instructor) means 'one who trained successfully', created in 1934. Kyoshi (Teacher) means 'one who teaches others', created in 1902. Hanshi (Master) means 'a model for others', the highest title.
Originally awarded by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, the system was inherited by the ANKF in 1953 after the Butoku Kai was dissolved in 1946.
As of March 2023, there were 66 Hanshi, 1,943 Kyoshi, and 4,561 Renshi. Hanshi is a lifetime title.
Looking for Formal Definitions?
Compiled from public data. For local exam details, consult local federations. This article follows the main ANKF definitions.
- 🔗 All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF) Official Website
- 🔗 ANKF Examination Regulations (PDF)
- 🔗 ANKF Examination Standards (PDF)
- 🔗 Wikipedia: All Nippon Kyudo Federation
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