Outline
Kume-mai, literally ‘dance of the Kume clan,’ is a suite of multiple movements, belonging to the kuniburi-no-utamai genre of indigenous song and dance. It is danced by four dancers armed with swords.
It derives from the songs and dances of the Kume, an ancient warrior clan who served the Yamato court. Its texts can be found in the two oldest Japanese chronicles, Kojiki (‘Record of ancient matters’) and Nihon shoki (‘The chronicles of Japan’), of the early 8th century.
From the Heian period (9th to 12th centuries) it was performed at the Toyoakari no Sechie (‘Banquet of flushed faces’), one of the ceremonial events of the Daijōsai (Great Thanksgiving Service) celebrated in years of imperial succession. It died out in the medieval period, and was revived in the early 19th century.
Program, text and translation
After a short instrumental prelude (Kume-uta no awase-netori) for transverse flute ryūteki, and reedpipe hichiriki, the dancers enter during the Mairi onjō. The dance begins in the section Agebyōshi. After a solo section for 6-stringed zither wagon, and the Ima wa yo section for solo singer and wagon accompaniment, the dancers leave to the accompaniment of the Makade onjō.
Kume-uta no awase-netori (short instrumental prelude)
Mairi onjō (‘Entrance music’)
| uda no | In the high hold |
|---|---|
| takaki ni | of Uda |
| shigewana haru | I set a trap for snipe, |
| wa ga matsu ya | And, oh, I waited. |
| shige wa sayarazu | Snipe was not what I snared; |
| isukuwashi | An awesome great |
| kujira sayaru | Whale was what I snared. |
Agebyōshi (‘Up beats,’ referring to the metered rhythm)
| konami ga | If the old wife |
|---|---|
| na kowasawa | Asks for some food, |
| tachisoba no | Cut her off a piece |
| mi no nageku o | As lean and with as little flesh |
| koki shi hiene | As the fruit on a tachisoba bush. |
| uwanari ga | If the new wife |
| na konnasaba | Asks for some food, |
| ichisakaki | Cut her a thick slice, |
| mi no ōkeku o | As fat and plentiful as the berries |
| kokita hiene | Of the ichisakaki bush. |
Wagon solo
Ima wa yo (for solo singer with wagon)
| ima wa yo | Now we’ve done it! |
|---|---|
| ima wa yo | Now we’ve done it! |
| aa aa | (unison) Ah! Ah! |
Makade onjō (‘Exit music’)
| shiya o | Come on! |
|---|---|
| ima dani mo ako yo | What can you do now, my boys! |
| ima dani mo ako yo | What can you do now, my boys! |
Costumes and instruments
The dancers wear headgear (kanmuri) of the makkō type, with a rolled flap (ken’ei) at the rear and fringed blinders (oikake) at the sides. The outer robe (hō) is of red silk, and they wear a sword (tachi) at their waists. The open trousers (sashinuki-hakama) are white, with a stenciled and hand-drawn design of paulownia, bamboo, and two phoenixes. The hems of the trousers are gathered at the ankle. They wear distinctive black lacquered leather shoes (ka-no-kutsu) with upturned toes.
The musicians wear headgear (kanmuri) with a hanging flap (suiei) at the rear. The outer robes (hō) of the leaders of the ensemble are red; those of the other musicians are dark gray. They wear shallow black lacquered shoes (asagutsu), and hold a wooden staff of office (shaku).
The singers are accompanied by an ensemble of transverse flute ryūteki,, reedpipe hichiriki, 6-stringed zither wagon, and clapper shakubyōshi (played by the lead singer).
Points for appreciation
This suite is said to be based on dances and songs celebrating a military victory, and this is reflected in the movements of the dance. This is particularly clear in the section with solo wagon accompaniment, where the dancers swing their swords down while facing each other in a square formation.
Today, kume-mai is performed officially only rarely, at the Taikyō (Great Banquet) associated with the Daijōsai (Great Thanksgiving Service) celebrated in years of imperial succession. It has, however, been transmitted to priests of the shrine dedicated to Emperor Jingū at Kashihara (Nara prefecture), where it is performed at the Shōwasai, on April 29 (birthday of the late Emperor Shōwa).
