Over 400 years ago, the dance of Izumo no Okuni captivated all of the audience, which became KABUKI, and from that Japanese Dance was born. Whether you’ve seen it before or not,
we hope you find it interesting…
Today, we’ll introduce “HARUSHIRABE MUSUME NANA KUSA” of the NAGAUTA.
*The KOUTA is a traditional Japanese short song accompanied by the shamisen.
｜SUZUMIBUNE
Kouta and Hauta songs, often performed in Japanese dance, are known for depicting vivid seasonal scenes.
“SUZUMIBUNE” is a stylish song that evokes the atmosphere of summer in Edo.
A cool breeze blowing across the water, the bustle of passing boats, the calls of watermelon sellers—such vivid scenes make you feel as though you have wandered into the town of Edo.
The world depicted in “SUZUMIBUNE (The Cool-Breeze Boat)” vividly evokes the image of people enjoying the evening cool along the banks of the Ryogoku River—capturing the very essence of an Edo summer—yet, in reality, the piece was composed during the Showa era. We find it fascinating that a piece of music depicting scenes evocative of an Edo summer was created in an era far removed from Edo culture.
“Cooling Off on a Boat under the Bridge” by Torii Kiyonaga from Cultural Heritage Online
https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/511769
｜Kasuga Toyo
Kasuga Toyo, who composed “SUZUMIBUNE”, was a Geisha born during the Meiji period and was of mixed heritage, with a British father and a Japanese mother.
After making her debut as a Geisha in Asakusa, she honed her skills in art forms such as Kiyomoto, Nagauta, and Tokiwazu, and founded the Kasuga School of Kouta.
The Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, during which Kasuga Toyo lived, were times when Edo culture was rapidly fading away. Amid the wave of Westernization, people split into two opposing camps: those who embraced the values of the new era and actively adopted Western culture and modern lifestyles, and those who longed for the fading charm of the Edo period and held dear the culture of the “good old days”.
As a woman of mixed heritage, Kasuga Toyo breathed the air of a new era, yet by immersing herself as a Geisha in the world of traditional performing arts that dated back to the Edo period, she naturally possessed the sensibilities of both worlds. It seems that this unique position gives a unique worldview to the “SUZUMIBUNE”.
The dual sensibility of embracing the new while cherishing the old gave rise to numerous works,
thereby opening up new horizons for Kouta.
In addition to honing her craft, she devoted herself to passing it on to the next generation, and in 1960, she was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon.
“Enjoying the Evening Cool on the Banks of the Sumida River” by Torii Kiyonaga from Cultural Heritage Online
https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/127647
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