Gagaku Otonowakai

Introduction of Otonowakai In the 8th year of the Heisei era - 1996 - we initially convened the performance group, "Otonowakai" in Kyoto, where Gagaku has been preserved for over a thousand years and one performing style, "Gyoyu," was established. Since then, under the direction of the members of the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency, we have demonstrated our achievements through our yearly concerts and overseas performances in Monaco, Prague, Évian-les-Bains, Sydney, and other locations. We also work to pass Gagaku on to the following generations by holding workshops at local schools.

Instructors Musical director and Ryuteki instructor : Mr. Sukeyasu Shiba Born in 1935 in Tokyo, Mr Shiba is a descendant of a hereditary Gagaku playing family from Nara. He finished the preparatory course and started his Gagaku career mainly as a Ryuteki player in the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency in 1955. He left the Agency in 1984 in order to extend his career to include composition, to play modern Gagaku pieces, and to investigate and revive lost pieces of the repertoires. Musical director of Reigakusha. He won the Minister of Education Prize in 1987, and the Mobile Music Prize in 1997. He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1999. He has also received the Award of the Japan Academy of Arts in 2003 and is a member of the Japan Art Academy.

Instructor for Sho and the Right Side dance: Mr. Tadaaki Ohno Born in 1959, Mr Ohno is a descendant of a hereditary Gagaku playing family from Kyoto. He started the preparatory course in 1972 and, upon graduation, started his Gagaku career in 1981 at the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency. He served at the funeral ceremony of the Showa Emperor and the Enthronment of Emperor Akihito, as well as instructing young preparatory course students. His field includes songs, Sho, Biwa, and the Right Side dance. The vice musical director of the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency. Adjunct Professor of Tokyo University of the Arts, and musical director of Tokyo Gakuso.

Instructor for Hichiriki and the Left Side dance: Mr. Masasue Togi Born in 1960, Mr. Togi is a descendant of a hereditary Gagaku playing family from Tennoji, Osaka. He performed as a child dancer of Gagaku at the National Theatre at the age of ten. He started the preparatory course in 1973 and, upon graduation, started his Gagaku career in 1982 at the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency . His field includes Hichiriki, Gaku-so, and the Left Side dance. The vice musical director of the Music Department of the Imperial Household Agency. Adjunct Professor of Tokyo University of the Arts.