This website provides an historical introduction to the biwa, and in-depth discussion of a selection of 22 representative pieces from the chikuzen biwa repertoire accompanied by the author’s performances.

Advanced Search of the Biwa Ballads

General Search

Battlefield Location

Historical Period of the Ballad

  • 安達ケ原 adachigahara

    Historical Period of the Ballad Heian period (9th c.-12th c.)
    Battlefield Location Tohoku

    Detailed Search

  • 羅生門 rashomon

    Historical Period of the Ballad Heian period (9th c.-12th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 茨木 ibaraki

    Historical Period of the Ballad Heian period (9th c.-12th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 土蜘蛛 tsuchigumo

    Historical Period of the Ballad Heian period (9th c.-12th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 隅田川 sumidagawa

    Historical Period of the Ballad Heian period (9th c.-12th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kanto

    Detailed Search

  • 都落ち miyako ochi

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 熊谷と敦盛 kumagai to atsumori

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 屋島 yashima

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Chugoku and Shikoku

    Detailed Search

  • 那須与市 nasu no yoichi

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Chugoku and Shikoku

    Detailed Search

  • 壇ノ浦 dan no ura

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Chugoku and Shikoku

    Detailed Search

  • 壇の浦 悲曲 dan no ura hikyoku

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Chugoku and Shikoku

    Detailed Search

  • 舟弁慶 funabenkei

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 安宅 ataka

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Chubu

    Detailed Search

  • 衣川 koromogawa

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Tohoku

    Detailed Search

  • 大楠公 dainanko

    Historical Period of the Ballad Middle Ages (13th c.-15th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 本能寺 honnoji

    Historical Period of the Ballad Warring States (16th c.- early 17th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 湖水渡 kosui watari

    Historical Period of the Ballad Warring States (16th c.- early 17th c.)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 関ケ原 sekigahara

    Historical Period of the Ballad Warring States (16th c.- early 17th c.)
    Battlefield Location Chubu

    Detailed Search

  • 伽羅の兜 kyara no kabuto

    Historical Period of the Ballad Edo period / Meiji period (1600-1880)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 曲垣平九郎 magaki heikuro

    Historical Period of the Ballad Edo period / Meiji period (1600-1880)
    Battlefield Location Kanto

    Detailed Search

  • 平野国臣 hirano kuniomi

    Historical Period of the Ballad Edo period / Meiji period (1600-1880)
    Battlefield Location Kinki Region (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto etc.)

    Detailed Search

  • 西郷隆盛 saigo takamori

    Historical Period of the Ballad Edo period / Meiji period (1600-1880)
    Battlefield Location Kyushu

    Detailed Search