(1) Môsô Biwa: Kaidan Hôyô
Location: Iwado Temple, Kunisaki Peninsula, Ooita Prefecture (old name = Chikuzen), Kyusyu Island.
Performer: Takagi Seigen
Contents:

I. Kiganbun (prayer)
II. Kaikyôge (opening sutra)

A. Played before every sutra.
B. Introduction of the Biwa performance

III. Bussetsu: Syô-Fudôkyô (The Teach of Buddha, Sacred Fud$BQ
(JSutra)
IV. Kôjin Wasan (Praise of Kôjin [Kitchen God] in Japanese)

(2) Heikyoku (Heike Biwa): Nasu no Yoichi
Performer: Doizaki Masatomi (A Japanese Living Treasure; the only performer of the authentic Heikyoku)

--Heike Story used to be recited rather than to be read (there were more than 200 recited pieces).
--It was in the Edo period when common people began reading the Heike Story, because of the improvement of printing technique and wide distribution of books.

(3) Satsuma Biwa: Jinyô-ko Performer: Suda Seisyû Title: Junyô-ko < X$BWO(Jyang River [in China]
 

Story: People were drinking sake on the boat on the X$BWO(Jyan River. It was their farewell party. Soon they saw a girl who were playing a p'i-p'a beautifully. They invited the p'i-p'a player to their farewell party. The player sung about her sad life story, and everybody started crying.

Satsuma = the old name of Kagoshima (prefecture) in Kyûsyû.

(4) Chikuzen Biwa: Nasu no Yoichi Performer: Uehara Mari

--There are four-string Chikuzen biwa and five-string Chikuzen biwa. The one on the video has five strings.
--Not an authentic Heikyoku performance, but this version is more entertaining.
--Very popular in the Meiji Era.
 

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