Gion

It's only a quick trip.  We are already in Kyoto and preparing to return home. Kyoto was a centre of religion and empire in its days and I don't think it was bombed during the war so there is history here along with masses of tourists and both cement and timber constructions and the Shinkansen.  We went to a wildly touristy performance of traditional arts at Gion Corner.  Seven short performances of 7 artistic pursuits in 1 hour, so very much a quick overview but worthy and well presented nonetheless.  The seven were Chanoyu (the tea ceremony), koto the stringed instrument, ikebana flower arranging, Bugaku dance, Kyogen comedy, Noh drama and Kyomai dance.  We missed the Banraku puppet theatre this night.  A school group of young boys looked very bored but I found it quite fascinating and for some of the styles, quite enough, especially given the language or my lack of it.  But I was enraptured by koto and various flute and drum accompaniments behind other arts.  Not the first time I'd heard this, but it's an invitation to listen more deeply to the intervals and pitches that sound so strange to our ears.  Then we walked through private streets with ancient timber buildings and eventually eating raw wagyu seated at the bar watching the chefs. These are just some of many fascinations in Japanese culture. 

Oikini Zaidan Kyoto traditional Musical Art Foundation present daily traditional art performances at Gion Corner in Kyoto.