Doll and Display we need help with

We purchased a couple of items while living in Japan about 25 years ago, we are not sure what they are for, and any significance other than souvenirs of our time in Japan. Hoping to get more information:

First is a Display of 4 Bows and 4 arrows - sitting in a "drum" - multiple gold braids hanging from the Bows. Primarily Lacquer Black, it is approximately 20" tall

Second is a Boy sitting on a White Stallion, Bow in hand, 4 arrows in a quiver and a sword on his belt. Approximately 20" tall.

I believe both were from a Boys Celebration.

Is it something like these?
http://www.yokote-kazokuai.com/images/product/shougatsu/hamayumi/big1....
http://www.geocities.jp/inoue007jp/hamayumi-4.JPG
http://suga-ningyouten.com/img/item/1MA-gakuseiyu11/1gakuseiyu111.jpg

What kind of information are you seeking for? You already seem to know that it's from a Boys Celebration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Day_(Japan)

Thank you for the response, the first image is very similar to what we have, the drum in ours is round. Our curiosity is more of understanding the significance of the display, what it represents as part of the ceremony, when we purchased it so many years ago, we were pretty immature in understanding what it was as opposed to it looking nice at home, now we would like to understand what this is and the difference of this over what we see with other gifts typically given during the Boys Celebration, for all we know, it has nothing to do with Boys Celebration, we just purchased it during the time frame.

Kind Regards

Ron Clark

Hello again.

Well, I'm not sure if I understand what you're trying to do, but first of all, you can help us help you by posting photos of your items.

In any case, if you purchased them during the May 5th time frame, they're most likely Boys Celebration decorations. And if they are Boys Celebration decorations, most locals consider them no more as something simply looking nice at home. But they are designed to wish good health and fortune for boys (as opposed to March 3rd Girls Celebration), so families with a son only display it during the May 5th time frame and most of them stop doing it as their boy becomes a man.

Usually the designs come in warrior-like figures or heroic figures with many things that boys typically like, drums being one. The doll maker (its logo typically written in brush writing) can also tell you more details.

The set of bow and arrows is called "Hama-Yumi". "Hama-Yumi" is a typical birthday ornamental gift for boys born during the year, to celebrate the birth and display on the New Year's day.

The Japanese classics believe arrows prevent and remove cursing, the bow can be used as an amulet due to making bow sound effect.

The set should include both arrows and bow but some sets only include arrows.

Hama-Yumi is not as popular gift as it used to be due to housing space, is still popular gift in rural side(those people live in a large house).

Hama-Yumi is not sent for girls. Girls gift is called "Hago-Ita".
http://goo.gl/8CsUwo

Not sure about the "drum" but I guess it's a target for arrows.
http://www.12danya.co.jp/image/t_5kazari/sale/hamayumi/10hamayumi-15ui...
http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/shukoh/cabinet/p/p71/p710...

Keep and well look after your Hama-Yumi set. It may prevent bad luck in your house and family mysterious way.

Thank you, the last response was very helpful.

Kind Regards

Ron Clark