Emperor Naruhito and his daughter Princess Aiko took in a concert featuring gagaku imperial court music and dance at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on October 20.

Gagaku performance by the imperial household's music department has been registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

In this year's autumn show, the department members showcased kagura-uta songs for the first time in 22 years.

Kagura-uta songs have been handed down since the Heian period that lasted from 794 to 1185.

They have been used in Shinto rituals since ancient times.

Officials said the emperor and the princess remarked that they enjoyed the rare experience of seeing up close the performance of music played during the Mikagura-no-gi ceremony that is held three times a year at the Imperial Palace.

During the event, Aiko at times wore glasses to watch the dances.

She and her father asked questions to Togi Hiroaki, former head of the music department.