Program Note “Kagura”, which can be found in all corners of the country at Japanese festivals, is one of annual ritual dance with traditional music. In Japan, they call traditional dance “Mai”. The dancers covering with a mask perform a ritual dance for one’s God’s with music. The music of Kagura is played by the traditional instruments, the Bamboo flutes (Shino-bue), the Drums (Taiko) and others. This work like a suite consists of three pieces, which are quoted by the melodies and rhythms from Kagura. Though it has many variations by each region in Japan, the music elements of the Kagura quoted in this work are only from, Nagano Prefecture, where I was born and grew up. During the time when I was 12-18 old, I studied Kagura with my old teachers who live at Nagano and we performed at annual local festivals. Therefore, the feelings of both of fragments of my memories of childhood and dedication to my hometown are included in my work.
The dancer covering with a mask “Shishi (
)”
Kagura performance at Nagano city (2013)
