Juni-on-kai
Juni-on-kai centers around volunteer musicians carrying forward the traditions of gagaku, an ancient court music dating back thousands of years. The gagaku performance group’s mission is to pass these traditions down to future generations. The group was established in fall 1977 (Showa 52) with the intention of promoting the inherent artistry of gagaku to the general public. Members wanted to take gagaku a step further, and not keep their long years of study and commitment purely within the group. Since the summer following its inception, the group has held many performances.
Ever since its second performance, Juni-on-kai has sought the possibility of a fusion of traditional and contemporary gagaku tradition. Including new works, the group has performed various pieces such as Masanori Fujita’s “Rothos music for gagaku ensemble,” “Shotorashion” by Sukeyasu Shiba, Minoru Kobashi’s “Engaku,” Toshiyuki Ozaki’s “Mumyo for Kangen,” “Chushin no Fu” by Shoetsu Kawasaki, Taminosuke Matsumoto’s “Geisho,” “Shu” by Toshiyuki Ozaki and Hiroyuki Uchikawa’s “Yobu koe ari.”
Juni-on-kai holds gagaku shows and performances on request throughout the country in its effort to promote gagaku.