The oldest Japanese myth, Kojiki, has not just been handed down from generation to generation in the Japanese Islands – It has been modified by incorporating a lot of myths originating in eastern Asia, which were imported by maritime people. It has been pointed out that a famous episode in Kojiki – so-called the creation of the Japanese Islands by Izanagi and Izanami – is similar to flood myths in southern China and south-eastern Asia. The episode is very similar to, for example, myths of an ancient Chinese god, Fu His, and goddess, Nüwa, in which the god will be married with the goddess if he can catch her after chasing her around a mountain or a big tree. It is also apparent that another episode in Kojiki, the myth of Umi-Hiko and Yama-Hiko, contains cultural elements of the Chang Jiang region in the southern China. Origins of many gods in Kojiki can be revealed if we read the myth from the viewpoint of eastern Asia. This lecture will be given in Japanese. Simultaneous interpretation to English will be provided.

Gagaku, imperial court music of Japan, is a type of Japanese classical music that has been performed at the Imperial Court for several centuries. The music of high culture with an elegant sound may bring you back to the ancient imperial court. We hope you will have a relaxing time and enjoy traditional Japanese culture.