神楽 (Kagura)

Kagura is a Shinto ceremonial music-and-dance tradition from Japan, performed at shrines to honor and invite the presence of kami (deities). It blends ritualized choreography, mask and costume play, chant, and an ensemble of flute, drums, gong, and hand bells. The music typically uses repeating rhythmic cycles and pentatonic modes, creating a solemn yet uplifting atmosphere suited to purification, thanksgiving, and mythic storytelling. Regional schools range from austere court-derived forms to lively folk styles that feature dramatic scenes such as serpent-slaying and lion dances.