During the Edo period, Toshiya became quite popular, but even in those days, some people were critical about its excessive sensationalization, and so, for example, Sadatake ISE said Toshiya was just play shooting and had no use in actual fighting.
江戸時代大いに流行した通し矢であったが、当時から過度の競技化には批判があり、伊勢貞丈は「実戦には何も役立たない遊射である」と述べている。