Playing for survival: the blind Japanese woman keeping a music tradition alive
Rieko Hirosawa revives goze music tradition in Japan, mastering the goze uta genre despite visual impairment. She honors the resilience of blind women musicians, sharing their stories with audiences nationwide.
Read original article
In Japan, Rieko Hirosawa is reviving the music tradition of the goze, blind and visually impaired women who played the shamisen to earn a living. Despite the lack of written scores and her own visual impairment, Hirosawa has mastered the goze uta genre, connecting deeply with its history and purpose. The goze were a vital part of Japanese music history, facing discrimination and hardship as they traveled to perform in villages, carrying their instruments and enduring tough conditions. The tradition, dating back to the 1500s, provided a means of survival for visually impaired women in feudal Japan. With the decline of the goze after World War II due to modernization and improved welfare, Hirosawa's dedication to preserving their music is crucial. Inspired by meeting the last true goze, Haru Kobayashi, Hirosawa continues to learn and perform the goze repertoire, aiming to share their stories and struggles with audiences across Japan. Through her music, Hirosawa honors the resilience and spirit of the goze, shedding light on a forgotten chapter of Japanese cultural history.
Related
Stanford student collects her Master's degree at the age of 105
Virginia Hislop, a 105-year-old Stanford GSE student, earned her master's degree after 80 years in education. Her journey, interrupted by WWII, showcases perseverance, community service, and lifelong learning's significance.
Degrowth In Japan: Mending the "metabolic rift" of capitalism
In Japan, Kohei Saito promotes degrowth to address overconsumption and climate crisis, advocating for a shift from GDP to well-being indicators. He warns against relying on GDP-linked technological solutions for sustainability.
Cloistered Rule
During Japan's Heian period, the insei system saw retired emperors residing in monasteries to retain influence. Emperor Shirakawa started it in 1086, leading to a complex power succession lasting 200 years.
Community water infrastructure, traditional permaculture in drought-prone Oaxaca
Indigenous women in Oaxaca, Mexico, revive ancient techniques to combat water scarcity, grow drought-resilient crops, and promote self-sufficiency. Initiatives address gender disparity and offer practical solutions amid climate change challenges.
Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]
The YouTube video analyzes Japanese website design influenced by cultural factors, contrasting it with American sites. It discusses user behavior, convenience, interface design differences, friction in user experience, and Japan's slower innovation adoption.
0 commentsRelated
Stanford student collects her Master's degree at the age of 105
Virginia Hislop, a 105-year-old Stanford GSE student, earned her master's degree after 80 years in education. Her journey, interrupted by WWII, showcases perseverance, community service, and lifelong learning's significance.
Degrowth In Japan: Mending the "metabolic rift" of capitalism
In Japan, Kohei Saito promotes degrowth to address overconsumption and climate crisis, advocating for a shift from GDP to well-being indicators. He warns against relying on GDP-linked technological solutions for sustainability.
Cloistered Rule
During Japan's Heian period, the insei system saw retired emperors residing in monasteries to retain influence. Emperor Shirakawa started it in 1086, leading to a complex power succession lasting 200 years.
Community water infrastructure, traditional permaculture in drought-prone Oaxaca
Indigenous women in Oaxaca, Mexico, revive ancient techniques to combat water scarcity, grow drought-resilient crops, and promote self-sufficiency. Initiatives address gender disparity and offer practical solutions amid climate change challenges.
Japanese web design: weird, but it works. Here's why [video]
The YouTube video analyzes Japanese website design influenced by cultural factors, contrasting it with American sites. It discusses user behavior, convenience, interface design differences, friction in user experience, and Japan's slower innovation adoption.