Rin Hitoe
The Traditional and the Modern —Bringing Kyoto Elegance to the World
Rin Hitoe is a group of up-and-coming performers who play Japanese musical instruments (primarily the koto, shakuhachi and dragon flute) and dance. Based in Kyoto, the group’s songwriting is influenced by “miyabi” (elegance), an aesthetic cultivated by aristocrats during the era of the ancient capital of Heian-kyo (794-1185). The koto and the dragon flute were instruments of the aristocracy, developed and handed down through more than 1000 years of Kyoto’s history, while the shakuhachi has long been used in Kyoto and elsewhere as a Zen Buddhist ritual instrument. Rin Hitoe’s performances blend these traditions with modern musical elements.
The group has given a devotional offering in the form of performance at the 42nd shikinen sengu (relocation ceremony) of World Heritage Site Sanctuaire Kamigamo-jinja. They have dedicated sacred performances at various famous temples and shrines including Sanctuaire Fushimi Inari-taisha, taking on the role of a guardian to traditional culture. They also provided music for the official tourism promotion of Kyoto’s Nishikyo and Yamashina Wards, playing a part in spreading the city’s charm to the rest of the world.
Music Connecting Kyoto Culture and People
The group has been received very well by inbound tourists, particularly for their performances at events such as Kyoto Hanatoro, the 1300th anniversary of the founding of the thirty-three pilgrimage sites of Western Japan, as well as during the offering of flowers to Yoshino Tayu at Josho-ji Temple. The positive response influenced the members to believe that they could provide further contributions with experience programs for tourists from overseas. Through their activities, they have witnessed inbound visitors, domestic tourists and local residents enjoying each other’s company and deepening mutual understanding, making them highly aware of the importance of such interactions.
Furthermore, the group’s representative, Mr. Yamane, has seven years of experience in the protection of Cultural Properties and as a guide at a temple not open to the public. He is keen to use his background to make the group’s performances at Kyoto’s Cultural Properties not only an occasion to enjoy music but also to teach about Japanese etiquette and responsible tourism. As such, the programs are more than simply a tourism experience; they are a conscious attempt at promoting a deeper and broader understanding of the culture and spirit of Kyoto.
Experience Kyoto's Art Culture With All Five senses
Kyoto’s Takagamine is associated with the internationally influential Rinpa school of art and is where the movement’s founding father, Hon’ami Koetsu, lived with his disciples and artisans. It’s also the location of Josho-ji Temple, which was founded in 1616 and is the resting place of Yoshino Tayu, an acclaimed geisha of Kyoto’s Shimabara pleasure district from the first half of the 17th century. It was amid this rich artistic legacy of Takagamine that Rin Hitoe’s show, with its fusion of Kyoto’s history and modern music, traditional instruments and dance (Kagura dance and Nihon Buyo), was born. The experience begins with a guided tour of the temple grounds tracing the life of Yoshino Tayu and then an Urasenke school tea ceremony. This is followed by a blessing by the chief priest and the musical performance in the main hall.
Rin Hitoe also offers other tours in conjunction with temples and shrines including a Japanese musical instrument show at Kamigamo-jinja Shrine with a special tour of the main hall (a National Treasure not usually open to the public). Please see the group’s official website for details of these unique experiences that engage all five senses.
