KINEYA Toshimitsu, the lead singer in the first piece, appears frequently on the concert stage, in dance performances and the Kabuki theatre and in broadcasts. KINEYA Mitarō, the lead shamisen player, contributes to the development of Kabuki in his position as head of the music department in the ONOE Kikugorō Theatre Troupe. The hayashi performer, MOCHIZUKI Harumi, is active along with her mother and grandmother as a female exponent of the Mochizuki school of hayashi performance. This particular piece provides all three performers with the opportunity to shine in their respective roles.
KINEYA Tōsei, the lead singer in the second piece, is active particularly as a lead singer in Kabuki dance pieces. KINEYA Katsukuni, the lead shamisen player in this piece, was designated a Living National Treasure in 2019. The hayashi performer, KATADA Kisaku, received his designation as a Living National Treasure in 1999. This superb performance is thus given by several of the most illustrious exponents of traditional Japanese music.
One of the major figures in the field of Nagauta at the start of the Meiji era was KINEYA Shōjirō III (1826-95). He demonstrated his genius as a composer and arranger, creating many outstanding original works and also being famed for the Chinchiriren instrumental interlude (aikata) in Musume Dōjōji and his arrangement of Sagi musume. Two pieces by KINEYA Shōjirō III are presented here.

Genroku-fū hanami odori, composed to a text by TAKESHIBA Hyōsuke, was first performed at the opening concert of the Shintomi-za Theatre in Tokyo in 1878. It is a lavish piece depicting cherry blossom viewing in Ueno during the Genroku era (1688-1704).
Shunkyō kagami jishi, with a text by FUKUCHI Ōchi, was first performed in 1893. Ceremonies involving ladies-in-waiting at Edo Castle took place in secret and were unknown to the ordinary citizens of Edo. A quarter of a century or so after the Meiji Restoration, the veil was lifted on this secret world in this piece which depicts a young lady-in-waiting dancing before the shōgun.

2018
Kioi Small Hall

Presented by: The Japan Foundation (JF) (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/)
In cooperation with EPAD (https://epad.terrada.co.jp/)

＜Performance Credits＞
Nagauta: Genroku-fū Hanami Odori (1878)
Song: KINEYA Toshimitsu
Song: KINEYA Minosuke
Song: KINEYA Saki
Song: KINEYA Katsueiji
Shamisen: KINEYA Mitaro
Shamisen: KASHIWA Youjiro
Shamisen: KINEYA Misuke
Shamisen: KINEYA Michio
Kotsuzumi: MOCHIZUKI Harumi
Kotsuzumi: UMEYA Ui
Taiko: UMEYA Tomoe
Ōkawa: KATADA Kisayo
Flute: HOUSEI Chiharu

Nagauta: Shunkyō Kagami Jishi (1893)
Song: KINEYA Tōsei
Song: KINEYA Toshimitsu
Song: KINEYA Minosuke
Song: KINEYA Toshijiro
Shamisen: KINEYA Katsukuni
Shamisen: KASHIWA Katsumatsu
Shamisen: KINEYA Katsumasao
Shamisen: KINEYA Katsukuniki
Kotsuzumi: KATADA Kisaku
Kotsuzumi: TOSHA Royū
Taiko: KATADA Shinjyūro
Ōkawa: TOSHA Rosyū
Flute: HOUSEI Haruhisa
Organized by: NIPPON STEEL Arts Foundation

＜Subtitling Credits＞
Chinese Translation (Simplified): Shu LIN
Chinese Translation (Traditional): Muju TSAN
English Translation: Robin THOMPSON
French Translation: Patrick DEVOS
Russian Translation: Ekaterina TARASOVA
Spanish Translation: David TARANCO