Genroku Culture (元禄文化)
Genroku culture was a culture that flourished from the end of 17th century to the early 18th century, especially in the Genroku Period (1688-1707), and was centered in mainly Kamigata (Osaka and Kyoto area). As its characteristic, it was rather a culture of ordinary people, however, besides townsmen, samurai or worriers class also led Genroku culture.
The cluture started in Kamigata and it developed Neo-Confucianism, natural science, and classical study. In fine art, Rinpa school by Korin OGATA and others, and Tosa school played active roles, and Ninsei NONOMURA, Koetsu HONAMI and others developed ceramic art. In music, koto (a long Japanese zither with thirteen strings) music of Ikuta-ryu School, Jiuta (a genre of traditional songs with shamisen accompaniment) of Nogawa School, Shin-joruri (new ballad drama) such as Gidayu-bushi (musical narrative of the puppet theatre) and Icchu-bushi melody, and Nagauta (long epic song with shamisen accompaniment) appeared.