Minbu Za Folk Dance

Japanese Folk Dance

History of Japanese Dance

Dance, which is one of the earliest and simplest forms of communication, has its origin in early Japan. The earliest known record of Japanese dance is in the Kojiki, a work about the history of Japan, from its mythological origins to the present day. In it, the Sun Goddess Amaterasu is coaxed out of a cave by a dancing woman named Amenouzimenomikoto. Dance, in ancient Japan, is thought to have been centered around the native religion of Japan, Shinto. Dancing was used to pray and honor the Gods.

In the 7th century, two types of dance were introduced to Japan from China, Bugaku and Sangaku. Bugaku was entertainment for the aristocracy, with the dance movements being very serene and quiet. Sangaku however was very lively. Sangaku did not just involve dance, it also encompassed such attractions as music, puppetry, and acrobatics. It lent itself more to the working people of Japan. Bugaku still exists and now consists of court dances. Sangaku does not exist as a separate form, but, as Japan has done with other bits of Chinese culture, been assimilated into Japanese culture. Sangaku became Sarugaku, a lively form of dance which was performed at various social functions.
Sarugaku eventually, around the 10th century, became Noh theater, a combination of dance and theater.

Kabuki theater started around the 17th century. It was a mixture of Noh, traditional folk dance, traditional music, and puppetry. Kabuki was a true synthesis of all these styles, with equal emphasis placed on the play, the dance, and the music.

Dengaku is the predecessor of Japanese folk dance. These dances were danced in the fields to pray for a good harvest, or thank the gods for one. They are as old as some of the ancient dances previously mentioned. These dances gradually became traditional folk dances. Since Dengaku was centered around work and was made up of working man's dances, traditional folk dances centered around the life of the Japanese working man or woman.

NIHON MINZOKU BUYO - Japanese folk dance
The Japanese folk performing arts include ceremonies, plays, music, and dance and are performed by ordinary working people, such as farmers and fisherman. These various arts handed down from generation to generation came out of the daily lives of people in the local communities. They can be seen in many Japanese festivals and popular events.
Among the Japanese people, dance is an integral part of their lives, whether as spectators or participants. Early dances had as their origin - the expressing of a need; the purpose of the dance was to revere a God, or spirit, celebrate a good harvest, pray for a good catch, or drive away a demon. They strongly reflect the spirit and characteristic nature of each region. Each town has its own original folk dance and performs it at its own festivals each season.
Much of Japanese folk dance is based on the Shinto and Buddhist faiths. Japanese folk dances, where the central theme is wishing for something, are taken from the dances of Shinto. Folk dances centered on the comforting of a dead spirit such as Nenbutsu Odori and Bon Odori embody ideas found in Buddhist dances.

DANCE FORM

The Japanese dance form is different from ballet and other western dances. The big steps and jumps of ballet and other western dances signify the desire to escape this earth - striving to reach the heavens. Japanese dance, however, consists of movements requiring bent knees and a low center of gravity. This emphasis on being close to the ground shows the desire of Japanese dancers to remain in contact with the earth - the constant source of their energy.

PROPS

Japanese folk dance uses many props such as umbrellas, towels, swords, hats, masks, fans - things used in everyday living, both now and in the past. Umbrellas are used in dances that are centered on rain; hats are used in dances having to do with farming (hats were often worn in the fields to shield their faces from the sun); fans, the most common prop, are used because they are symbols of luck; swords are used when a samurai is the dancer; and so on.

COSTUME

The costume of the dancer in Japanese folk dance often represents what the dancer is feeling and who he or she is. Normal dress would be a kimono, with an Obi wrapped around the waist to hold the costume together. However, different dances entail different kimonos. Since Happi are a more basic form of clothing, and not considered formal wear, dancers wear them most often when dancing festival dances. When the dancer is emulating a samurai, he wears a man's kimono, with a pair of hakama - baggy pants that almost look like a skirt, but are not. Kimono can also represent the season the dance is to be danced in. When dancing a spring dance, dancers will wear kimonos adorned with the symbols of a Japanese Spring, such as the cherry blossom.

Kimono - the traditional Japanese cloth outer garment
Tabi - socks which separate the big toe from the other toes
Obi - a belt, wrapped around the waist and tied in the back
Happi - jacket
Hakama - trousers