[Beginner’s Guide] Japanese Traditional Performing Arts — Introducing Masterpieces of Rōkyoku [Naniwabushi]

Rōkyoku, a traditional Japanese performing art dating back to the Edo period and also known as Naniwabushi, is a distinctive narrative art in which tales of human emotions and historical stories are conveyed with rich feeling, set to the accompaniment of the percussive shamisen.

A single storyteller—called a rōkyokushi—portrays multiple characters, skillfully interweaving song and spoken narration to unfold the story.

The repertoire is remarkably diverse, ranging from duty-and-humanity pieces depicting the joys and sorrows of common folk to period dramas featuring historical heroes.

In recent years, young rōkyoku performers have been gaining prominence, actively embracing contemporary interpretations and staging new works.

For those intrigued by rōkyoku, we introduce some representative pieces here.

We hope you enjoy this article, which also serves as a perfect introduction.