Moon at Dawn

Meiji shinkyoku refers to “new pieces” for the koto that appeared during Japan’s Meiji era, when musicians began to modernize Edo‑period koto traditions. These works favor a distinctive, brighter pentatonic sound (often related to the yo/yonanuki scale), and they are most commonly written for a duet of two kotos. Stylistically, Meiji shinkyoku balances courtly elegance with tuneful, forward‑looking lyricism. The two kotos are frequently tuned in complementary scordature and exchange clear, songlike melodies, antiphonal figures, and simple counter‑melodies. Compared with earlier, more austere repertoire, Meiji shinkyoku tends to feature concise forms, brighter modal color, and, in some cases, hints of Western tonal motion, reflecting the broader cultural reforms of the period.