“Japanese Traditions”: Japanese Festival Music (Jun Hōgaku)
Festival hayashi music is indispensable to Japanese festivals.
It’s music performed with traditional Japanese instruments—such as taiko drums, flutes, and small gongs—sounds that every Japanese person has likely heard somewhere.
Classified as pure traditional Japanese music, festival hayashi has long been performed and cherished at festivals across the country.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide variety of such local festival hayashi!
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“Japanese Tradition” — Japanese Festival Music (Hogaku) of Japan (11–20)
Aomori Nebuta festival music
Nebuta-bayashi is the powerful festival music played at the thrilling Nebuta Festival, held every August in Aomori Prefecture.
The dynamic performance—driven by drums, flutes, and bells—leaves a strong impression that stands toe-to-toe with the giant floats called “Nebuta” that appear in the festival.
This music is mainly performed when the Nebuta are in motion.
Its highly rhythmic beat gets bodies swaying—not only locals from Aomori, but even first-time listeners.
It’s the kind of festival music that makes everyone there, from the handlers moving the Nebuta to the spectators, want to energize the celebration together.
Eisa
Eisa is one of Okinawa’s traditional performing arts, comparable to the Bon Odori on the Japanese mainland.
Each neighborhood’s youth association has its own style, and on the nights of the old Bon festival they parade through their communities while dancing.
The forms can be classified into several types; the oldest is said to be hand-dancing only.
Today, however, most youth associations perform Taiko Eisa centered on large barrel drums and small rope-tied drums.
The powerful drumbeats and shouts lift the spirit.
Meguro Hayashi
Meguro Hayashi is the festival music performed at shrines within Meguro Ward, such as Kumano Shrine and Hikawa Shrine.
It inherits the atmosphere of Kanda-bayashi, which is regarded as the principal style of festival music.
In addition to drums, it uses the shinobue flute and kane (hand gong) to play ten pieces, including Kamakura and Shōden.
Recognized as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property, its melodies evoke the traditional spirit of Japanese harmony.
Children also have opportunities to practice this music, and performances are presented at school events and at festivals such as the one at Kumano Shrine.
Shigematsu-ryu Festival Hayashi
Shigematsu-ryu Festival Music, indispensable to traditional Japanese festivals, is a performing art that originated in Tokorozawa in 1830.
It features a five-member ensemble consisting of a large drum, small drums, shō, and flute.
Its brisk tempo and the interplay between the two small drums enhance the music’s appeal.
Performed at local events such as Tokorozawa City’s Tokorozawa Festival and lovingly passed down through generations, this work invites you to feel the vibrancy of Japanese festivals.
You’ll surely find yourself thinking, “I’d love to hear this while taking part in a festival.”
Akita Kanto Festival Music
The Akita Kanto Festival, held every year from August 3rd to 6th in Akita City, Akita Prefecture, is one of the three great festivals of the Tohoku region, alongside Aomori’s Nebuta Festival and Sendai’s Tanabata Festival.
Its festival music, known as Kanto-bayashi, has two styles: Nagashi-bayashi and Hon-bayashi.
During the festival, drums are placed on floats—decorated trucks—and performed atop the floats.
It seems to be tradition for two people to play a single drum together.
Sekiya Bayashi
Sekiya Bayashi, performed at the Shinjo Festival in Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture, has been carefully passed down as a source of local pride.
The powerful rhythms created by traditional Japanese instruments such as taiko drums, flutes, and shō play a vital role in heightening the festival atmosphere.
Registered by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, this festival music is cherished as a symbol of community unity.
If it’s difficult for you to attend the festival in person, try searching for performance videos on YouTube.
The dynamic performances are sure to set your heart racing.
“Japanese Traditions” Japanese festival music of traditional Japanese music (21–30)
Ise Ondo Saijō Festival Hayashi
Saijo Festival Hayashi, performed at the Saijo Autumn Festival held in October at a shrine in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture.
Also known as the Ise Ondo, this festival chant originally arose in the Province of Ise, which corresponds to present-day Mie Prefecture.
It has even been sung by Masafumi Akikawa, the tenor from Saijo City, Ehime, famous for “A Thousand Winds.” This chant has been passed down and sung in many places across Japan, with lyrics that vary by region.
Because it features not only percussion such as drums and gongs but also clearly sung lyrics, it allows you to experience the unique festival atmosphere of each locale more vividly.