During the Battle of Yashima in February 1185, the Taira challened Nasu no Yoichi (c. 1169–c. 1232) to shoot a fan mounted on a post on their boat — some 65 meters away, rocking on the waves. On orders from Yoshitsune, Yoichi drew his bow and split the fan's pivot point with a single arrow. This scene, known as 'Ougi no Mato' (The Fan as Target), is celebrated as one of the most beautiful episodes in The Tale of the Heike, and Nasu no Yoichi is remembered in Japanese history as its greatest archer. When the fan fell into the sea, warriors on both sides cheered; a Taira dancer began performing in celebration, but Yoichi then shot that dancer as well.

At the Battle of Yashima (February 1185), Taira no Noritsune (1160–1185), the Taira clan's supreme warrior, demonstrated his deadly archery by shooting Yoshitsune's loyal retainer Sato Tsugunobu from horseback-on-boat, killing him instantly. When the enraged Yoshitsune charged toward Noritsune, Noritsune bellowed a challenge to single combat — one of the most electric scenes in The Tale of the Heike. The confrontation between the Taira's greatest fighter and the Genji's brilliant commander electrified the battlefield and spread Noritsune's fearsome reputation across both camps. Alongside Nasu no Yoichi's fan-shooting feat, Noritsune's episode at Yashima stands as one of the battle's most memorable moments.