All types of music are enjoyed in Japan today from traditional Japanese music to contemporary American Jazz. In 1995 alone, over 500 million music CD's were produced by Japanese record companies. Japanese music consists of a wide variety of musical styles including traditional Japanese music, J-pop which is similar to Western popular music and is generally listened to by young people, and enka which are traditional ballads popular with middle-aged and older people. Central to the development of traditional Japanese music has been the early importation of various instruments from Asia including stringed instruments, flutes and of course the drum.

Traditional Japanese Music (dentoh-teki-na ongaku)

The history of music in Japan has been to take in foreign musical styles and instruments and interpret them in a uniquely Japanese way. Even the musical instruments most associated with traditional Japanese music in fact came to Japan from other parts of Asia. The koto (a thirteen stringed harp-like instrument), for example was introduced in Japan before the sixth century, a primitive type of shakuhachi (a bamboo flute about 20" in length) was introduced in the eighth century and the modern shakuhachi in the 13th century - all from China. The shamisen (a three stringed banjo-like instrument) was introduced in the 16th century from Okinawa.

Seventh-century Japanese diligently studied Asian music and in 701 an office of music was established within the imperial court. As a result of official support, gagaku (court music) developed into the music of court ritual. In the 9th century the blending of foreign music with Japanese folk music resulted in several new musical styles including dengaku which was a combination of music and dance associated with planting and harvesting rituals and sarugaku which was a precursor to nohgaku (the music played in noh theater).

In the 12th century the biwa (a four stringed lute-like instrument) became a popular instrument among the samurai class and a musical style biwagaku emerged. In the latter half of the 14th century as noh theater became more popular a new genre of music developed called nohgaku. Buddhism contributed greatly to the development of a musical style played with the shakuhachi which was performed during religious rituals. In the 16th century, Japan experienced a renaissance of performing arts by and for the common people which brought many musical styles and tastes to the forefront. Important to this was minyo which are Japanese folk songs.

During the Edo period, many of the arts came under the control of the iemoto (school) system and students were apprenticed to masters over long periods of time marking their progress in a variety of ways. This system still survives today although it is not practiced with the same severity as in the past.

Instruments (gakki)

• Shamisen is a three-stringed banjo-like instrument brought to Japan from China in the mid-sixteenth century via Okinawa. The Japanese developed new playing techniques with the use of the bachi (a large pick held in the palm of the hand) and different sized versions of the instrument. Shamisenongaku is music played with the shamisen and is that music which typically accompanies kabuki.
• Koto is a thirteen stringed harp-like instrument brought to Japan from China before the sixth century. Over the years, the Japanese adapted the koto to become the popular instrument that it is today. Sokyoku is music played with the koto or the koto accompanied by the shamisen and shakuhachi.
• Shakuhachi is a bamboo flute about 20" in length first introduced to Japan from China before the sixth century. A later version of the shakuhachi was brought in the eighth century and the shakuhachi of today was introduced to Japan in the thirteenth century.
• Biwa is a guitar-type instrument with four strings. Music played with the biwa is known as biwagaku.

Japanese Drums (taiko)

Like most ancient cultures, drums were the first instrument to develop in Japan and were probably used as a form of communication within ancient villages. The earliest evidence of drums can be seen in a haniwa clay figure of a drummer dating back to the Jomon period about 7,000 B.C. Then much later during the sixth and seventh centuries, it is believed that drums were brought to Japan along with the introduction of Buddhism from the Asian mainland. The beating of a single drum or taiko became ritualized within Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. At the same time, taiko became a popular instrument played in court music (gagaku) of the day.

During the civil wars of the late fifteenth century, taiko were used as a form of communication across great battlefields signaling an advance or retreat and as a way to intimidate the enemy. Picture scrolls and painted screens from the time depict the taiko being carried on the back of a single soldier while two other soldiers beat the taiko on either side.

Over the years, the Japanese developed various types of taiko. The shime-daiko is a rope tensioned drum carved out of a single piece of wood which is used in playing classical Japanese music. A lightweight version of this drum is used as an accompaniment to noh and kabuki and a heavier version is used in playing traditional folk music.

The type of Japanese drumming which has become popular around the world today is credited to Daihachi Oguchi who developed the kumi-daiko style in the 1950's. Unlike traditional Japanese drumming which relied on the use of a single drum, the kumi-daiko style is essentially an ensemble of different types of drums including the shime-daiko, the nagado-daiko (long-bodied drum) and the famous odaiko which is the largest Japanese drum being several feet in diameter. For the most part, Japanese drums are played with bachi or drumsticks which are made from a variety of woods and bamboo. The bachi used in playing the odaiko are about 2" in diameter and a couple of feet in length. It is estimated that there are over 4,000 kumi-daiko groups throughout Japan today and there are many others located in countries throughout the world.

The taiko continues to be the central instrument used in Shinto and Buddhist rituals as it has been for centuries as well as an important accompaniment to the music played in noh theater and kabuki plays. It is also extremely popular in the many folk festivals and celebrations which occur in Japan throughout the year.