Product Description
Whereas nagauta is associated with Tokyo and kabuki, gidayu, another narrative shamisen music, was founded in the bustling commercial centre of Osaka and created the bunraku (puppet theatre) tradition. Gidayu is especially distinguished by its singing. At a bunraku performance the singer (tayu) demonstrates an enormous range of expression, it is said instilling life into the wooden puppets. It is considered to be one of the most difficult Japanese art forms, and Toyotake Yamashiro no Shojo has been designated a Living National Treasure for his mastery in gidayu.
