Esashi oiwake music
Encyclopedia
Esashi oiwake music（江差追分） is a kind of folk music
from the Japan
ese island of Hokkaidō
. It started in the town of Esashi
in Hiyama Subprefecture
.
An Eashi Oiwake song consists of three sections:
Oiwake was originally a horseman's song (Mago-uta) from Oiwake village from Nagano Prefecture but spread throughout Japan during the Edo
period. Once in Esashi, the melody was modified and also enlarged by adding starting and ending sections.
The song's lyrics changed, describing nature, customs and fishing in Esashi instead of a horseman's life in the mountains. The Japanese Shakuhachi
flute accompanies the singing which has a free rhythm rather than a mechanical, fitted rhythm.
One version of the way that the term Esahi Oiwake was coined is from the town's efforts to reinvent itself as a tourism destination at the end of the 19th century after local fisheries failed. The town advertised itself using a popular oiwake song called Min'yo which became known as Easahi Oiwake as the town's version gained renown.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
from the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese island of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. It started in the town of Esashi
Esashi, Hokkaido (Hiyama)
is a town in Hiyama District, Hiyama Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital of the subprefecture.One of the oldest towns in Hokkaidō, the name Esashi comes from the Ainu word for konbu, a type of edible kelp well known in Japan...
in Hiyama Subprefecture
Hiyama Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan located on the Oshima Peninsula on the Sea of Japan side. It includes Okushiri Island. It was established in 1897.-Towns and villages by district:* Hiyama District** Assabu** Esashi ** Kaminokuni* Kudō District...
.
An Eashi Oiwake song consists of three sections:
- Maeuta (beginning song);
- Hon-uta (main part or original song)
- Ato-uta (final song)
Origins
Based on the Easahi Oiwake page of the International Shakuhachi Society's websiteOiwake was originally a horseman's song (Mago-uta) from Oiwake village from Nagano Prefecture but spread throughout Japan during the Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
period. Once in Esashi, the melody was modified and also enlarged by adding starting and ending sections.
The song's lyrics changed, describing nature, customs and fishing in Esashi instead of a horseman's life in the mountains. The Japanese Shakuhachi
Shakuhachi
The is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
flute accompanies the singing which has a free rhythm rather than a mechanical, fitted rhythm.
One version of the way that the term Esahi Oiwake was coined is from the town's efforts to reinvent itself as a tourism destination at the end of the 19th century after local fisheries failed. The town advertised itself using a popular oiwake song called Min'yo which became known as Easahi Oiwake as the town's version gained renown.