Kōwakamai

Kōwakamai, kowakamai, kouwakamai (幸若舞) is a Japanese recitative dance, originating in the 15th century and popular during the Sengoku and early Edo Period (late 16th to early 17th centuries). Although kōwakamai has dance and musical components, scholars consider its textual component as an independent literary genre.

Kōwakamai may have evolved from the dance form called kusemai of the 14th century, sharing its origins in traditional court dance and music with nō and kabuki. Little is actually known about how the dance was performed in the warlord to shogunate periods. A remnant of the kōwakamai is performed every year on January 20 at Tenman-jinja, a shintō shrine in Ōe.

Kōwakamai (along with nō) is a form of entertainment enjoyed by warrior-class families during Japan's medieval age. Kōwakamai performances were celebratory but also the cause for sorrow. Many of the pieces are sorrowful tales, ranging from resoundingly sympathetic tales dealing with the loss of life and defeat. The piece titled "Atsumori () which depicts Taira no Atsumori and Kumagai Naozane at the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani is especially popular for these reasons.

When considering the kōwakamai lineage and the creation of kōwaka dance pieces (幸若舞曲, kōwaka-bukyoku) (the actual kōwakamai written-texts), one Momonoi Naoaki (桃井直詮) is usually accredited. Momonoi Naoaki claimed to be the grandson of Momonoi Naotsune (), who in turn was a descendant of Minamoto no Yoshiie. Momonoi Naoaki's childhood name was "Kōwakamaru" (幸若丸), from which it is said the term "kōwakamai" gets its name.

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