Kamogawa Odori, 1924

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The following is a direct except from the English language section from the Kamogawa Odori programme of 1924 from the private collection of Naomi Graham-Diaz, ImmortalGeisha.com. This has been copy-typed verbatim, along with scans, from the original programme by Naomi Graham-Diaz.

An Explanation.
Gokinaimeisho
Famous views within Gokinai

Gokinai includes five provinces Yamashiro, Yamato, Izumi, Kawachi, and Settsu, and situates in the middle of our country. These districts had been first civilized in Japan. (3000 years ago) And the first Emperor Jimmu of our country, subjugating the western part of the empire (from Hyuga, his native or original province, as far as Gokinai) chose Kashiwara (in Yamato province,) as his Imperial palace. (2600 years ago) Later until the reign of Kammu, when he set his Capital in Kyoto (2000 years ago) the capital has been removed here and there e.g Osaka, Nara, Asuka) within Gokinai. After the Capital was settled in Kyoto, these districts, being near to the Capital, held an important part in the Empire, so that large shrines, temples and many other historical relics are remained.

The Kamogawa dance, this year, has attempted to draw your attention, to the Gokinai-Meisho, or the famous views within Gokinai, and chose nine places as representatives of them, a short explanations of which are as follows.

Part 1 "Momoyama"



The back ground of the stage is sliding screens on which the landscape of the river Yedoviewed from the hill of Momoyama is drawn, so as to conform to "shinnen genshi" or "a thought of the new year's day"……… the topic of the New Year's Poem Competition, this year, held under the auspices of the Imperial household. The hill of Momoyama is famous for the Imperial mausoleum of the late Emperor and Empress Meiji; their Majesties the Crown Price and Princess went there, the other day, to inform their marriage which was held in January this year. The dancing girls are provided with golden-coloured dancing fans each.

Part II "Takaradera" The temple of a treasure



The stage shows "the Hoshakuji" or the temple of a treasure near Kyoto. The Emperror Shomu (about 2000 years ago) when he was yet a price, dreamed a dream one night, in which there appeared a Sea Nimph before him, presented a treasure, and then ascended to heaven. When he awoke, he found a small hammer made of wood which was said to provide anything and everything it's holder desires. On the 75th day after this event, he succeeded the throne, and placed the treasure (the hammer) in this temple.

In the first year of Genji (61 years ago) Izumi Maki and other seventeen samurais fought in vain for the restoration of the Imperial sovereignty, and committed suicides on the mount Tenno (near this temple) whose corpses the priest of this temple buried on the summit of the mountain.

Dancing girls have the same fans as the first stage.

Part III "Tsukigase" In Nara Prefecture



Tsukigase is surrounded with deep woods and secruded ravines. It is well known for it's plum blossoms, and became famous by the poems of Setsu lo Saito, Sanyo Rai and Shochiku Shinozaki, noted scholars of Chinese classics and admires of the scenery in this precincts.

Each dancer has a hat decorated with plum blossoms of red and white colour.

Part IV "The Inner Hall of the Yoshimizu Shrine"



Yoshimizu-in (the former name of the Yoshimizu shrine) had been the refuge of Yoshitsune Minamoto (a famous warrior about 600 years ago) and the Imperial palace of the Yoshino dynasty for about 50 years (450 years ago)

The stage is made after the sitting room of Yoshitsune, which he used while he was hiding himself here, from his brother Yoritomo. Red and White azaleas are seen standing face to face, which we call the confrontation of the Genji and Heishi (the Montagues and the Capule's)…… a contrast of red and white.

Dancers have fans.

Part V "The Exterior View of the Same Shrine"

There hang a screen over the stage which is resembled after the treasure which is treasured as a relic of the epoch of the Namboku dynasty (450 years ago).

One-half of the dancers have a fan each with black ribs, and the other half, a tanazaku each. (a special oblong paper to write a Japanese poem on).

Part VI "The Calabash Hill"(Province of Kawachi)



The back ground shows the Hyozan Shrine in which Hideyoshi Toyotomi enshrined Hoijiki-Okami - a God of corn - when he removed his residence to the castle of Osaka from that of Fushimi. The outline of the compound (hill) of the shrine resembles very much that of a calabash; hence the calabash Hill. Hideyoshi embraced the religion in this God early in his life and chose a bunch of calabashes as an ensign.

Dancers - a bamboo branch with calabashes in hand.

Part VII "The Takojizo"



There are seen a sea-shore of Kishiwada which is located in the southern direction of Osaka, and the building of Tenshoji (or the Takajizo as a popular name.)

The dresses of the dancers are made after the manners of the Temmeiepoch (100 years ago) especially after a famous picture, the thesis of which is "a lively scene of a village with the songs of fishery" written by Utamaro Hishikawa, one of the most noted experts in "ukiyoe" - a genre picture.

The songs here sung are that of a group-dance produced by the province of Izumi. (near Osaka)

Dancers - a Japanese towel in hand.

Part VIII "The Otori Shrine"



The stage is the landscape of snow of the Otori-shrine a (a state-shrine) in which Yamato-takerunomikoto, an ancient Prince and also a famous warrior is enshrined.

Dancing girls with a Japanese umbrella covered with snow.

Part IX "The Sakuranomiya"



In Miyakojima, Settsu, in the Prefecture of Osaka.

The landscape of the river Yedo viewed from the shrine of Sakura, (or the shrine of cherry) with the mint in the distance. As you see, the cherry blossoms are in their full bloom.

Dancers have a branch of cherry.

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The text above is a direct except from the English language section from the Kamogawa Odori programme of 1924 from the private collection of Naomi Graham-Diaz, ImmortalGeisha.com. This has been copy-typed verbatim, along with scans, from the original programme by Naomi Graham-Diaz.