How did the Meiji Restoration lead to the revival of biwa narrative music?

The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, played a pivotal role in the revival of biwa narrative music during the late 19th century.12

This revival was driven by several key factors:

• Political Influence: Many members of the new Meiji administration hailed from the Kyushu provinces of Chikuzen and Satsuma, which were the historical centers of the biwa tradition. Their rise to power facilitated a resurgence of interest in this musical form.2
• Formation of New Schools: As the traditional blind-priest biwa (moso biwa) tradition had declined, new schools of narrative biwa music emerged under the names of these two provinces. These new schools were notably influenced by existing samisen narrative traditions.2
• Thematic Alignment: The content of the new biwa pieces shifted to focus on military topics, which were considered appropriate for the era's emphasis on modernization and national strength.2
• Imperial Context: The return of biwa music occurred alongside the restoration of imperial power, paralleling the revival of court music during the same period.1