Filed under: Japan
Here’s another great Japanese record on Columbia. This wild music is called Toori Kagura Tawamure, sacred music played at Shinto festivals for Kotobuki Jishi (Lion Dance). This particular piece is Edo Kanda Bayashi.
In and around Tokyo, there are many shrines which have seasonal festivals, mainly in autumn, at which hayashi music and folkloric dance-dramas are performed for the public. The Hayashi is generally called matsuri hayashi (festival hayashi). Kanda Bayashi is one of them, which is used in the Kanda district of downtown Tokyo. The ensemble usually consists of a flute, two flat barrel drums played with two sticks, a gong and a big drum.
Here’s some visuals for you:
Kanda Bayashi:
Lion Dance:
Thanks once again to Mary Mariko Ohno, director of the Kabuki Academy in Tacoma, Washington, for translation and other info…these Japanese posts couldn’t have been done without her help…thanks!
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HAJI MAJI 
Nice.
Comment by icastico May 7, 2009 @ 5:38 pmThanks as always.
8^)
This is very nice – it’s oddly reminiscent of North Mississippi Hill country Fife & Drum music. It’s not what I was expecting to hear. Thanks!
Comment by sprout333 May 8, 2009 @ 6:59 amyes, good observation sprout333….the king of which is Othar Turner…check him out here:
http://www.othaturner.com/
HM
Comment by HAJI MAJI May 12, 2009 @ 7:58 amMany thanks for this, and all the others! A wonderful blog, beautifully put together.
Comment by gracenotes June 17, 2009 @ 10:57 amThank you gracenotes.
My apologies to everyone for the long time between postings…I’m swamped with several projects but will soon have several more interesting items to post.
Comment by HAJI MAJI June 17, 2009 @ 11:03 amThese Japanese posts were fantastic, especially the Geisha Blues FUJISAN 2978a.
Do you have any idea on the years of the recordings?
Comment by g July 27, 2009 @ 12:50 am