Traditional Folk Song in Modern Japan: Sources, Sentiment, and Society

The study moves from tradition to modernity, explores a range of topics such as: song life in the traditional village; rural urban tensions; local min'yo preservation societies; the effects of national and local min'yo contests; the new folk song phenomenon; min'yo and tourism; folk song bars; recruitment of professionals; min'yo's interaction with enka popular songs and with Western-derived foku songu; the impact of mass mediation; and, min'yo's role in maintaining or creating local identity. The book contains a plate section, musical examples, and a compact disc. Traditional Japanese Folk Songs (min'yō) From The Countryside Are Strongly Linked To Their Places Of Origin And Continue To Play A Role There. This Book Explores A Range Of Topics Such As Song Life In The Traditional Village, Rural-urban Tensions, Local Min'yō Preservation Societies And Min'yō And Tourism. 1. Folk Song In Japan: The Background -- 2. Song And Music In The Traditional Village -- 3. Folk Song In Transition -- 4. The Modern Urban Folk Song World -- 5. The Modern Countryside And The Performing Arts -- 6. At The Edges Of The 'folk Song World' -- 7. Japanese Folk Song: Retrospect, Circumspect, Prospect -- App. 1. Texts Of Shin-min'yo And Related Popular Songs -- App. 2. Addresses Related To Min'yo -- App. 3. A Marketing Guide For Min'yo Recordings. David W. Hughes. Accompanying Compact Disc Includes Traditional Japanese Music And Songs. Notes To Accompanying Compact Disc On P. 373-377; Includes Detailed Information On All Tracks. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [338]-359) And Indexes. Audio-videography: P. [360]-363. Various Performers. The study moves from tradition to modernity, explores a range of topics such as: song life in the traditional village; rural-urban tensions; local min'yo 'preservation societies'; the effects of national and local min'yo contests; the 'new folk song' phenomenon; min'yo and tourism; folk song bars; recruitment of professionals; min'yo 's interaction with enka popular songs and with Western-derived foku songu ; the impact of mass mediation; and min'yo 's role in maintaining or creating local identity. The book contains a plate section, musical examples, and a compact disc The Japanese say that folk song is the hearts home town. Traditional folk songs (minyo) from the countryside are strongly linked to their places of origin and continue to play a role there. Today, however, they are also taught as a quasi-art music, arranged for stage and television, quoted in Westernized popular songs and so forth.