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

  • 羅生門 rashomon

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

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  • 茨木 ibaraki

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

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  • 土蜘蛛 tsuchigumo

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

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  • 隅田川 sumidagawa

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

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  • 都落ち miyako ochi

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

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  • 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.)

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  • 舟弁慶 funabenkei

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

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  • 本能寺 honnoji

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

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  • 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.)

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  • 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.)

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