Gagaku: Music of the Japanese Imperial Court 【HD】

The past 2 and 3 of February, in the temples and Shrines of Kyoto, the celebrations of the "Setsu-bun" gathered thousands of people. Setsu-bun refers to the division point of the seasons, in this case, when winter ends. The next day is called "Risshun" and is considered the beginning of spring. So, the 2 of February I went to take a look at the Festival held in the Yasaka Shrine, in Gion. There was a beautiful Gagaku (Japanese Classical Music used in the Imperial Court) music and dance performance and then a Maiko Dance presentation after it. Early Gagaku Music was introduced in Japan from China in dates as old as 589 a.d. and after this, Gagaku Music and Dance representations evolved to the Japanese Style we can see today. For a comprehensive guide to sightseeing in Kyoto, check out our website: