noun
second arrow (kyūdō); arrow with right-curving feathers
In kyūdō, the second of two arrows fired in a ceremonial pair; its feathers curve to the right. Contrasts with 甲矢 (はや), the first arrow with left-curving feathers.
See also: 甲矢
弓道では、甲矢の後に乙矢を射る。
In kyūdō, one shoots the second arrow (otoya) after the first arrow (haya).
甲矢 is the first arrow fired, with feathers curving to the left; 乙矢 is the second, with feathers curving to the right.
乙 (second, latter) + 矢 (arrow). The kanji 乙 is used in the sense of 'second' or 'latter', as in the traditional ordering system 甲乙丙丁.