Kibigaku , which was based on Gagaku etc., was born in Okayama in the beginning of the Meiji era. The main characteristic is the use of Koto as a leading part unlike Chuseigaku (in which Koto is used as a support). All tunes include singing. Players play the Koto singing a song. And Shou, Hichiriki, Ryuteki, and sometimes Taiko, Syouko, Kakko are added as an accompaniment. Kibigaku was thought of as "new music" during the Meiji era. With the Gagaku flavor and new melody (which Gagaku doesn't have), Kibigaku became popular as the music which had modern feeling in those days. The effects of national studies and policy can be found in the songs which were composed when Kibigaku started. Some tunes are with dancing. This dance is called Kibimai (mai refers to dancing).

Konkokyo and Kibigaku
In Konkokyo Services, Kibigaku was offered for the first time in 1890 (in the 23rd year of Meiji). Kibigaku spread after Otondo Ohara (the first president of Konkokyo Tengakukai) began participating in Services. In 1902 (the 35th year of Meiji), three years after Konkokyo became independent, the organization became protected formally as a local organization of the religious body, and Ohara was appointed as the first President of Konkokyo-Tengakukai. That year, Ohara was invited into a practice meeting of Kibigaku in Osaka Church. It helped increase the number of members who wished to serve in Tengaku at each local Konkokyo church in Osaka. Also, in Kyusyu, the number of local churches in which Tengaku was performed began to increase. Kibigaku also spread throughout Japan.

Kibimai
Some tunes of Kibigaku are with dancing. This dance is named Kibimai (mai mean dancing). Kibimai is performed at the Konkokyo Grand Service in Spring and Sutumn and Houtokusai Service in December. And it is also performed at memorial Services and Grand Services at each local Konkokyo church.
People who dance are called "Maijin".
In the Service Hall in Konkokyo Headquarters, Maijin dance with beautiful makeup, costumes and headwear. There are two kinds of costumes in Kibimai.