Ebook: Goze : women, musical performance, and visual disability in traditional Japan

Goze were Japanese female musicians with visual disabilities. The origins of goze can be traced to the medieval era, but it took until the Edo period (1600-1868) for goze to form guildlike occupational associations and create an identifiable musical repertory. From this time onward countless goze toured the Japanese countryside as professional singers and contributed immeasurably to rural musical culture. The best-documented goze lived in Echigo province in the Japanese northwest. This book recounts the history of goze and examines their way of life, their institutions, and their songs. Read more...