Kamigata-Mai (Jiuta-mai)

- a traditional Japanese dance form

Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe were known as the Kamigata area, so the dances created here are called Kamigata-mai.
Drawing on 12th-century traditions established by courtesan dancers and singers at banquets in Kyoto and namely based on the dancing tradition of noh, kabuki and kyogen, but also referring to the techniques of puppet movements in bunraku, it was born and developed in the 16th century.

Kamigata-mai is at times called jiuta-mai, because it is performed to the accompaniment of jiuta (popular song sung by the Kamigata people), the oldest form of shamisen music.

While noh, kyogen and bunraku as well are performed by males, kamigata-mai origins in the dances popular with the court ladies, "Maiko" or "Geisha"
Developed mainly as a chamber art, it was performed in zashiki (a Japanese-style room with tatami mats) to entertain special guests. That is why at times it is also called "zashiki-mai". It enjoyed the patronage of highly aesthetically sensitive personalities.

As a chamber art, kamigata-mai exhibits a sharp contrast to world-famous kabuki dances which are put on in large theatres to the accompaniment of nagauta which is theatre-oriented music.

Kamigata-mai is performed in a subdued, tranquil and dignified way, giving major importance to the external expression's of one's innermost sentiments. kabuki dances instead are more animated, vigorous and sometimes even boisterous.

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For more information about Japanese culture the following organisations are of help: Japan Information Network (JIN), Japan Center for Intercultural Communication (JCIC) and The Japan Foundation. They are all linked through Web Japan a 'Gateway for all Japanese Information':
Here you will find a short and comprehensive Overview of Japanese Dance and an Overview of Japanese Music.

noh / noh-gaku / sarugaku-noh
One of the traditional performing arts of mainland Japan.
A song-and-dance drama that developed from the medieval sarugaku, the form was perfected in the Edo period (1615-1868), which marked 250 years of complete isolation from the rest of the world, during which time Japan's unique cultural heritage developed away from outside influences.
The subject matter is classical, and the performers wear masks.

Kamigata-mai was influenced by shimai a form of noh theater performed without masks or costumes, with skill expressed through posture and the use of a folding fan

kabuki
One of the traditional performing arts of mainland Japan: a song-and-dance drama that was born during the Edo period as an art form of the masses.
Originally played by street formers, from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) onwards the form became classical and stylized and it is this change from the street to the theater that is called kabuki.
Even today new interpretations and original plays are tried out, and performances are staged for the popular audience.

kyogen
In general terms this means any art involving spoken lines, but it usually refers to noh kyogen. Like Noh, it is an old art form whose origins lie in sarugaku: subject matter taken from daily life is treated in comic manner.

bunraku
One of the traditional performing arts of Japan. The term refers to the puppet shows (puppet theatre) of Osaka. Like kabuki this was popular art for the common people, born during the Edo period, and together with Noh these three are known as the sandaikokugeki, or three great national forms of theatre.

shamisen
It is a three string instrument and came to Japan during the Edo period , it was the time of a growing merchant class as well as a samurai (warrior) class that did not have much to do since war was over, except entertain themselves. It quickly became popular as the best instrument for entertainment.

Osaka has always been a merchant city. In the Edo era, it was especially a rice market. Merchants came from all over Japan to sell rice in Osaka. They would host parties for people including samurai and big customers. Since samurai all studied noh drama, the jiuta-mai dancers chose famous parts of the noh plays and included them in jiuta-mai dances. Jiuta-mai were always changed to please special guests.

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