Study on the Creation Process of “Singing Dance” Writing process of Hoiku-shoka (Childcare songs) found in the Gagaku-roku (The Official Documents of Japanese Imperial Court Music)

Abstract

It is thought that the “singing dance”, a childcare technique advocated by Fröbel, was first performed in Japan at Tokyo Women's Normal School Kindergarten, which was opened in 1876 (9th year of the Meiji era). The part played in its introduction by Clara Matsuno, the first senior kindergartner, Fuyu Toyoda, Hama Kondo and others was clearly recorded, but there has been little study of the role played by the Reijin (musicians) belonging to the Gakubu (Japanese Imperial Court Music Department), Board of Ceremonies, Imperial Household Ministry, to whom composition of Hoiku-shoka (childcare songs) was requested, especially in relation to “singing dance”.