GOKAYAMA FOLK MUSIC

Gokayama folk music, intangible treasure

 

Gokayama is said to be the treasure land of folk music. Folk songs and dances have been handed down from generation to generation. Today, the folk music continues to be passed down. The folk music of Gokayama has been orally inherited and developed with its climate. KOKIRIKO and MUGIYA are folk songs that are specific to the cultural properties of Gokayama, and have been maintaining by local people singing and dancing to them.

??One of the Gokayama folk songs, MAIMAI is to be said the original folk dance in Japan that boys and girls sing and dance together in circle, with holding their hands, sometimes by touching their shoulders and heels in some special occasions. MAIMAI dance sometimes brought chances to some couples to marry.

Folk songs, being inherited

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• KOKIRIKO-BUSHI
  The oldest folk song in Japan.
• MUGIYA-BUSHI
  Nostalgic song that allows the village people to reflect on their past and how they came to Gokayama.
• GOKAYAMA-OIWAKE-BUSHI
  The folk song that reflects on the cows of Gokayama carrying bags of rice from the village to the city to be sold.
• TOICHINSA-BUSHI
  The folk song refers to a Japanese bird.
• OSAYO-BUSHI
  The folk song that is about Osayo, a young girl from Ishikawa Prefecture, who fell in love with a boy from Gokayama. Osayo helped create the Gokayama minyo songs and dances. She is a legendary benefactor to the people and culture of Gokayama.

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