During this period, various artistic performances like Dengaku (ritual music and dancing performed in association with rice planting) and Sarugaku (form of theater becoming the basis for Noh) were spread among the upper class court nobles, Emperor Goshirakawa liked Imayo (Popular songs) and he studied eagerly.
この頃、田楽・猿楽といった庶民の雑芸が上流貴族の生活にも入り込んでいて、後白河も今様（俗謡）を好み熱心に研究していた。