Women's Gidayu and the Japanese Theatre Tradition

Women's gidayu is a traditional form of Japanese musical narrative. During its 350 year history, gidayu has had to cope with the problems imposed by a theatrical culture dominated by men. This book introduces the performers, their musical narratives and the politics of their survival within Japanese performing culture. It offers a case study of the continuation of a music within the context of the Tokyo metropolis and provides insights into Japanese theatre traditions, particularly as they reflect notions of gender, culture and society. Accompanying the book is a CD, that gives access to historical recordings of the plays discussed in the text.