Two Ancient Japanese DancesKeiichi Fujii and P. D. Perkins

Excerpt

The New Year has always held an important place in the affections of the Japanese people, for it is then that they forget for a few days the cares and troubles of daily life and begin a new year fresh and happy.

Many of the customs now observed at the New Year originated centuries ago and one of the most fruitful periods was the luxurious Muromachi age. At this time there was leisure especially in Kyōto to enjoy life to the full, but, though many of the customs and ceremonies have been preserved, some have been lost or have merged their identity with other rituals and ceremonies.

Among these customs now known only by name is ” Matsubayashi” or ” Music of the New Year’s Pines “.

This was an unpretentious performance in which singing was the chief element — performed each year in January, and in some ways associated with Sarugaku (猿楽) and the Fūryū (風流).