Music of Japan

Japan has many kinds of music.

People play big drums called taiko. These drums make loud sounds.

Some play a three-stringed instrument called a shamisen. It makes sweet sounds. People also sing folk songs called min'yō. These songs help with work or for festivals. Some songs are even lullabies for sleep. Music is a big part of life in Japan. It brings people together to dance and sing.

Japan has a rich world of sound. The word for music is ongaku. It combines words for sound and comfort.

One famous sound comes from taiko drums. These are large drums used in many ways. In the past, they were used in battles. Today, people play them in large groups. We call these groups kumi-daiko.

Other people play the shamisen. This is a lute with three strings. It is often used in folk songs called min'yō. These songs are for many things. Some are for work on farms. Others are for weddings or festivals. Some songs even include loud shouts called kakegoe.

You might also hear the biwa. This is a short-necked lute. Long ago, travelers played it to tell stories. In Okinawa, music sounds a bit different. They often play the sanshin, which is like a shamisen. They also use a clicking instrument called sanba. Japan also loves modern music. There is jazz and pop music called J-pop. Many people in Japan love to listen to music every day.

Japan has a wonderful world of sound to explore. The Japanese word for music is ongaku. This word joins the characters for sound and comfort.

Music is a huge part of life there. In 2017, Japan was the second-largest music market in the world. It is even the largest market for physical music like CDs. People use music to find joy and to share their history. From ancient court songs to modern pop, there is something for everyone.

Traditional music often uses special instruments to tell stories. One famous instrument is the biwa, a short-necked lute.

In the past, traveling performers called biwa hōshi played this instrument. They often sang stories like The Tale of the Heike. Another group of performers were women known as goze. These women traveled to sing and play instruments like the koto or shamisen. The shamisen is a lute with three strings.

You might also hear the shakuhachi, which is a bamboo flute.

Percussion is also a very important part of the soundscape. The taiko is a Japanese drum that comes in many sizes.

Its history goes back at least to the 7th century. Long ago, taiko drums were used in battles to send commands. They were also used in religious music for Buddhism and Shintō. In 1951, a jazz drummer named Daihachi Oguchi helped invent modern ensemble taiko. He created large groups that played with a lot of energy. Now, many people play in large drum groups called kumi-daiko.

Folk music, known as min'yō, is used for many different life events. These songs can be for farmers working or for children's lullabies.

Some songs are for big celebrations like the Obon festival. During these songs, people might make loud shouts called kakegoe. These shouts are part of the chorus and can change by region. In Okinawa, the music sounds a bit different than on the main islands. Okinawan music often uses the sanshin instrument instead of the shamisen. They also use a clicking instrument called sanba to add rhythm.

Today, Japan mixes these old traditions with very new sounds. Western music arrived during the Meiji Era in the late 1800s. This led to new styles like enka and popular music called Kayōkyoku. You can also find many jazz fans and large orchestras in Japan. Modern pop music, or J-pop, is also very popular today. Even video games use these sounds, like the game Taiko no Tatsujin. Whether it is a quiet flute or a loud drum, music connects Japan's past to its present.

Music in Japan is a vast and diverse landscape of sound. The Japanese word for music is *ongaku*. This term combines the kanji *on*, meaning sound, with *gaku*, meaning music or comfort. Japan holds a massive position in the global music industry. In 2017, it was the world's second-largest music market. It was also the largest market for physical media, such as CDs, with a retail value of US$2.7 billion. From ancient imperial courts to modern digital pop, music serves as a vital link to Japanese history and identity.

Some of the oldest musical traditions are found in *Gagaku*, or orchestral court music. This style dates back to the Nara (710–794) and Heian (794–1185) periods. *Gagaku* is performed at the Imperial court and is divided into two main types. The first is *kangen*, which is strictly instrumental music. The second is *bugaku*, which is dance accompanied by *gagaku* music. These traditions include indigenous repertories like *Kagura-uta*, *Azuma-asobi*, and *Yamato-uta*. Other forms, such as *Tōgaku*, resemble styles from China's Tang dynasty. Meanwhile, *komagaku* may have roots in the Korean Peninsula.

Storytelling has often been tied to specific instruments. The *biwa* is a traditional short-necked lute.

In the past, itinerant performers called *biwa hōshi* used this instrument to perform *The Tale of the Heike*. These performers even organized into guild-like associations. Another group of musical travelers were the *goze*. These were blind women who toured during the medieval era. They sang and played music on lap drums. By the seventeenth century, many *goze* had transitioned to playing the *koto*, a 13-stringed zither, or the *shamisen*, a three-stringed lute.

Percussion is a powerful element of the Japanese soundscape, centered on the *taiko* drum. *Wadaiko* refers to these Japanese drums, which come in many different sizes.

While their exact origins are uncertain, clay figures from the 7th century document their existence. Historically, *taiko* drums served functional roles in battle to intimidate enemies and communicate commands. They are also essential to religious music in Buddhism and Shintō. In 1951, a jazz drummer named Daihachi Oguchi revolutionized the instrument. He invented modern ensemble *taiko* by incorporating his jazz background into large groups. This led to the rise of *kumi-daiko*, which are large drum ensembles. This movement eventually spread from the Hokuriku region to the entire world.

Folk music, known as *min'yō*, reflects the daily lives of the people. These songs are often categorized into five main groups: fisherman's work songs, farmer's work songs, lullabies, religious songs, and songs for gatherings. Gatherings might include weddings, funerals, or the *Obon* festival.

*Min'yō* singers are often accompanied by instruments like the *shamisen*, *taiko*, or the *shakuhachi*, a bamboo flute. Performers may also use the *shinobue* (a transverse flute), the *kane* (a bell), or the *tsuzumi* (a hand drum). Many songs feature *kakegoe*, which are rhythmic shouts used in choruses. These shouts, such as "a yoisho!" or "sate!", vary by region. In Okinawa, the music follows different patterns, often using the *sanshin* instrument and scales that include half-steps not found in mainland pentatonic scales.

Western musical influences began to change the Japanese landscape during the Meiji Era (1868–1912). Following the Meiji Restoration, leaders introduced Western musical instruction. Shuji Isawa was a key figure who studied in the United States and helped establish the Tokyo Music School. This era saw the rise of *shōka*, music composed for schools, and *gunka*, or war songs. As Japan moved toward democracy, the music industry evolved into *Kayōkyoku*. This genre became a major industry, helped by superstars like Misora Hibari. In the 1950s, Latin music like tango and Cuban cha-cha-chá also became popular. Famous *enka* singers later emerged, performing styles influenced by traditional Japanese structures.

Today, the Japanese music scene is a global force. The country has a strong presence in Western classical music, with many major symphony orchestras in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Japan is also a significant market for jazz, which has remained popular since the 1930s despite being repressed during World War II. Modern pop, or J-pop, and various electronic styles continue to thrive. From the traditional resonance of a *biwa* to the energetic beat of a *kumi-daiko* ensemble, music remains a central pillar of Japanese culture.