Traditional Folk Dances of Japan

This field recording by Mary L. Evans represents a wide variety of traditional Japanese dances with ranging subject matters such as draught, war, famine etc. The recording captures both the music and the noises made by the dancers (grunts, chants, feet stomping) which adds additional energy and depth to the music and draws the listener in further. The liner notes include detailed explanations by Evans of the song meaning and history, as well as information about the dance performances themselves. With photographs and select lyrics (translated into English)

Track Listing

101	Kasa Odori	Young men	03:31
102	Sumiyoshi Odori	Dancers at Sumiyoshi Shrine	02:08
103	Mugiya-Bushi Odori	Young dancers accompanied by musicians playing shamisen, kokyu, shakuhachi	04:20
104	Memburyu	Large group of male dancers accompanied by drums, flute, and bells	03:42
105	Sado Okesa	Japanese dancers, singers, and musicians	02:42
201	Iwasaki Oni Kembai	Group of dancers accompanied by flute, drum and bell	04:16
202	Awa Odori	Bon Festival participants	06:26
203	Okubo Odori	Male dancers accompanied by one big drum	01:45
204	Gujo Odori	Bon Festival participants and spectators	03:05
205	Morioka Stag Dance	Male dancers accompanied by bamboo flutes, samisen, drums and small gongs	03:06