Jun 04 (NHK) - Japan's Crown Princess and her eldest daughter have watched a performance of the traditional dances of Ryukyu, now known as Okinawa.
Crown Princess Akishino and Princess Mako attended the Ryukyu dance performance at the Yokohama Noh Theater near Tokyo on Sunday.
The event was held to commemorate the new Emperor's ascension to the throne in May.
One of the dances was performed to a traditional Ryukyu verse written by Emperor Emeritus Akihito, set to a musical piece written by Empress Emerita Michiko.
In his verse, he wrote about his thoughts after he and his wife visited a national leprosy sanatorium in Okinawa in 1975, when they were Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Okinawan dancer Fusako Shida performed to the music of the sanshin, a traditional three-stringed instrument.
Dances for auspicious occasions were also performed.
Crown Princess Akishino and Princess Mako applauded each performance.
The Crown Princess used to study Ryukyu dance. After the performance, she spoke to the artists, asking a dancer about the pattern of a costume. Princess Mako said she enjoyed the performances very much.
Source: ANNnewsCH
