To celebrate the China-Japan Cultural and Sports Exchange Year, Japanese Traditional Dance and Music, jointly held by China Performing Arts Agency and Cultural Office of Japan, was performed on 12^th December, 2007 in Beijing Haidian Theatre.

Cutural exchanges have ranged from those art forms such as music, dance, drama, film, painting, calligraphy, library, museum, relics, archaeology, photography, Chinese folk art, folk custom, literature, mass culture, etc. to various fields. The Japanese Embassy in China hosted activities to mark the Year of Sino-Japanese Friendship and Culture. These activities played an active role in enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship of the two peoples.

Traditional Dance Music

It is said that the history of Japanese dancing goes back to the mythical age. A famous Japanese myth tells us that Amenouzume no Mikoto danced in front of the Amano Iwato to open the cave entrance that Amaterasu Ohmikami had concealed herself in. The 'kagura' dancing in its religous and mystical influence is said to have came into existence from this story.

'Bugaku' and 'Gagaku' were brought over from China while 'Dengaku' and 'Sarugaku' sprang up as the entertainment of Japaese farmers. From these, the uniquely Japanese 'Nohgaku' came into being. 'Nogaku' came to have an influence on Kabuki. It is thought that the current form of Japanese dancing is the direct descendant of Iizumo Okuni's Nenbutsu Odori'. The dance of Okuni is different from ' Nohgaku', but it was a dance that has its origin in ethnic dancing. Izumo Okuni is also credited as being the founder of Kabuki.