The whistling sound was also believed to chase away evil spirits, and to alert friendly kami to lend their support. It was not uncommon for archery exchanges to be performed for quite some time, and in the 1183 battle of Kurikara, for example, fifteen arrows were shot by each side, then thirty, then fifty, then one hundred, before these hundred samurai on each side actually engaged one another in battle.
A distinctive whistling sound was also believed to repel malevolent entities and summon benevolent kami to offer support. It was not uncommon for archery duels to be extended, as seen in the 1183 Kurikara battle, where both sides fired fifteen, thirty, fifty, and eventually one hundred arrows before engaging in actual combat.