ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an account, by the Japanese travellers, of the agreeable and honourable exercises which the nobles of Europe engage in, and of the noble education of their children. In Europe the travellers were exposed to the best of Spanish and Italian music and met some of the foremost musicians of the time. They also became quite accomplished at playing various European musical instruments by the time they returned to Japan. On the way back they performed publicly in Macao on the feast of the Circumcision and in Kyoto, during the official banquet for Valignano, they entertained Hideyoshi with a musical performance. Despite the extensive use and importance of music in the Jesuit mission to Japan, Loyola had strongly disapproved of music in Jesuit institutions and services. His successors were divided on the issue, opponents arguing that music was not conducive to piety and encouraged moral laxity while others appreciated its inspirational capacity.
