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What is the purpose of torimono music in mi-kagura ceremonies?
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Japanese music
Courtesan playing a samisen, Japanese woodcut print.
In the context of mi-kagura ceremonies—the ritual music performed exclusively within the imperial palace grounds—the music is categorized into two distinct types based on its purpose.1
The purpose of torimono music is to praise the spirits or to seek their aid. This contrasts with the other type of mi-kagura music, known as saibari, which is intended to entertain the gods, following the mythological tradition of amusements performed for the sun goddess.1