about Nagauta

Nagauta is the most popular traditional Japanese theatre music.  It originated from the Kabuki Theatre.  Over time, Nagauta developed independent concert repertoires of its own to move away from the Kabuki Theatre.  The principal instrument used is the shamisen, a three stringed lute, with a vocal accompaniment.  Nagauta can be played in musical performances as well as an accompaniment for dance.

about Yamatogaku

“Yamatogaku” is a contemporary genre of Japanese traditional music that combines both Western and Japanese aesthetics. The style was developed from the ideas and efforts of Baron Kishichiro Okura to make Japanese traditional music more accessible to a rapidly-modernizing Japanese audience. This style of music, which was founded in 1933, pairs traditional instruments and female voices with Western vocal aesthetics and harmony to create a unique sound world which stands out among the traditional arts of Japan.