Japanese Traditional Folk Dance: Kagura

I went to Hiroshima many years ago and while there I witnessed Kagura. I was mightily impressed. It was much more fun, lively and exciting than Kabuki, I thought. 


Here's a pretty good video of Kagura from Azumayama:

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Kagura:

Kagura (神楽, かぐら, "god-entertainment") is a Japanese word referring to a specific type of Shinto theatrical dance—with roots arguably predating those of Noh. Once strictly a ceremonial art derived from kami'gakari (神懸, かみがかり, "oracular divination") and chinkon (鎮魂, ちんこん, "spirit pacification"), Kagura has evolved in many directions over the span of a millennium. Today it is very much a living tradition, with rituals tied to the rhythms of the agricultural calendar, as well as vibrant Kabuki-esque theatre, thriving primarily in parts of Shimane prefecture, and urban centers such as Hiroshima. 


Once again, I see a complete and total connection to traditional American indian dance... There's no doubt in my mind that the American indians came across the Aleutian islands many millennium ago.

3 Minutes Free Vacation to Japan! Japanese Traditional Music: Koto & Shakuhachi (Japanese flute)

Wow! Grab a beer. Turn the lights down low and turn the music up.


This is fantastic Koto and Shakuhachi music!

Koto, from Wikipedia:

The koto (箏) is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese zheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan.^[1] Koto are about 180 centimetres (71 in) length, and made from kiri wood (Paulownia tomentosa). They have 13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the width of the instrument. Players can adjust the string pitches by moving these bridges before playing, and use three finger picks (on thumb, index finger, and middle finger) to pluck the strings.

Shakuhachi, from Wikipedia:

The shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of suizen (吹禅, blowing meditation). Its soulful sound made it popular in 1980s pop music in the English-speaking world.

They are often made in the minor pentatonic scale. 

Cool & Strange Music - Vol. Five: Smoke on the Water and Jailhouse Rock

Yee haa! Geisha Rock and Roll!!!!

Matsuchiyo

Hell… It's a Saturday night, I've been drinking all day, and now it's late at night (6:45 pm to be exact) and time for my bedtime…

But, since you sick kids like this Cool and Stange Japanese music stuff so much… I got this one for you…

Smoke on the Water in traditional Japanese music style?

Are there more songs like this? Oh yes. More. Many more… (It might be difficult for westerners to see/hear, but these guys are world class - kind of like opera... This isn't any low class crappy orchestra. This is Japan's best!)

Shoot.... Elvis didn't have anything on these guys:

How about a Jailhouse Rock in traditional Japanese music style? Would this have been Elvis had Japan won the war? Japanese Elvis?!

This is a very twisted, dark and demented country.

Japan: Cool and Strange Music Country…. The only other place this is more bizarre is probably those crazy frisking Americans….