is a form of traditional Japanese narrative music in which a sings to the accompaniment of a . accompanies , traditional Japanese puppet theater. As a form of storytelling, emphasizes the lyrics and narration rather than the music itself.

History

According to Asai Ryōi, the first performer to have ever employed the during his storytelling, instead of the

biwa The is a Japanese short-necked wooden lute traditionally used in narrative storytelling. The is a plucked string instrument that first gained popularity in China before spreading throughout East Asia, eventually reaching Japan sometime durin ...

, was chanter Sawazumi. The story he narrated was , one of the many existing versions of the , which tells the tale of the tragic love between

Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a commander of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian period, Heian and early Kamakura period, Kamakura periods. During the Genpei War, he led a series of battles that toppled the Ise-Heishi branch of the Taira clan, helping his half-br ...

and Jōruri-hime. Following this event, every tale sung to the accompaniment of a became emblematic of the style.

References

Japanese styles of music Japanese traditional music Japanese words and phrases Shamisen {{Japan-music-stub

History

See also

References