Bugaku

Bugaku will be performed by the Yasaka Gagaku-kai, the group of dancers performing regularly at annual festivals of Yasaka Shrine. Yasaka Shrine historically is associated with the Fujiwara clan, including Fujiwara no Michinaga the mastermind behind Tale of Genji. The programme performed at Kozanso is also being depicted in Tale of Genji.

Bugaku, court dance and music, is a traditional dance that has been performed at the Imperial court and shrines for over twelve hundred years. The dancers wear traditional costumes and masks.

Yasaka Shrine was highly revered by the Fujiwara clan, and Fujiwara No Mototsune is said to have donated his mansion to the shrine in 9th century, and although the building no longer exist, the current Yasaka Shrine stands where this mansion originally was. Michinaga also frequently visited around the 10th century. It is said that the reverence of the central figures of the Fujiwara clan during its heyday elevated the status of Yasaka Shrine.