長唄(ながうた)

ながうた
noun
nagauta; long-song shamisen genre for kabuki
1. nagauta; long-song shamisen genre for kabuki
A traditional Japanese vocal genre sung to shamisen accompaniment, developed in the Edo period as music for kabuki dance scenes. Now also performed independently in concert settings.
母(はは)は長唄(ながうた)を習(なら)っている。
My mother is learning nagauta.
歌舞伎(かぶき)の舞踊(ぶよう)には長唄(ながうた)が欠(か)かせない。
Nagauta is essential to kabuki dance.
長唄(ながうた)の演奏(えんそう)には三味線(しゃみせん)と囃子(はやし)が使(つか)われる。
Nagauta performances use shamisen and percussion accompaniment.

Literally "long song." The principal music of 歌舞伎(かぶき) dance scenes, performed by a singer and 三味線(しゃみせん) player together with a 囃子(はやし) percussion ensemble.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 長唄(ながうた)を習(なら)う: to study nagauta
  • 長唄(ながうた)三味線(しゃみせん): nagauta shamisen
  • 長唄(ながうた)の師匠(ししょう): a nagauta teacher

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 義太夫(ぎだゆう): gidayū — narrative chanting for bunraku, more dramatic and story-driven
  • 小唄(こうた): kouta — short, intimate shamisen songs from the geisha tradition
  • 端唄(はうた): hauta — short popular shamisen songs
general
Added 2026.6.1 12:07
28500/28511_nagauta