日本の音楽

Japanese Music

From spiritual roots to modern idols

Referential to Western styles and yet uniquely Japanese, Japan’s music will entertain, delight, and inspire you. There are familiarities and curiosities, offering a fascinating journey of discovery, whether you want to dip your toes or dive in headlong. There’s something for everyone, with styles ranging from deeply traditional and spiritual to experimental and avant- garde to buoyant, playful, quirky pop.

The Sound of Tradition

Early Japanese music can be traced back to gagaku, a type of classical music played at the Imperial court to accompany dramatic performances. The music was often sparse and driven by the action onstage. Shomyo, the chanting and singing of the monks, was also a major part of Japan’s musical lineage. A key element of both styles was the hyoshigi, a simple-looking instrument made of two wooden boards. The spiritual, tonal sound made by hitting them together is part of the fabric of Japanese traditional music, and is also a feature of no theatre. Meanwhile, lacking direct contact with the court and the high arts, ordinary people developed their own form of traditional folk music, and joruri—a style of music and storytelling—became popular with all classes.

One other important style, enka, came into fashion before the advent of contemporary music. Originating in the early 20th century as political messages set to music, the style was made up of slow, sentimental songs and would later become the basis for Japanese popular music. Enka singers would often use extensive vocal wavering and vibrato, predicting the vocal flourishes of modern R&B music.

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The Birth of a New Era

In the 20th century, Japan made the leap from a long period of traditional music to soaking up a range of outside influences. Hawaii, Japan’s American neighbor, introduced some Hawaiian and 1950s Americana elements to late enka, which became a full-blown obsession with early Western rock and roll that endures to this day. “Ue Wo Muite Aruko” by Kyu Sakamoto, released in 1961, is probably the true birth of the new wave of Japanese music. Sung by an Elvis-inspired crooner, this spiritual link between enka and J-Pop remains the only Japanese song to ever top the American charts. In the West, the song was renamed “Sukiyaki”—not because it has anything to do with the slow-cooked meat dish known as sukiyaki, but because it was easier to say.

Be More Japan Japanese Music

Be More Japan Japanese Music

The Age of J-Pop

J-Pop is a mega-force of contemporary music that kicked off in the 1990s. The name was originally coined to denote every type of pop music apart from enka, but is now most closely linked to bubbly chart toppers that have an irresistible rhythm and simple—almost clichéd—lyrics, and are often accompanied by choreographed dance moves. Strong melodic songwriting and catchy, hummable tunes have made sure that J-Pop is here to stay, despite the influence of smoother, R&B–style K-Pop (Korean pop)—another music-industry behemoth that has swept the globe.

Feel the Music

The thrill of a live concert is always exciting, and Japan takes it to the next level with wotagei. Performed by wota (J-Pop idol fans), this high-energy dance involves waving glow sticks and chanting, and is truly a sight to behold when a whole crowd joins in. To see the wota in action, download some J-Pop and look up a band or two to see live in concert in Japan. Hugely popular bands include SMAP, Arashi, and Glay, whose “best of” album sold 4.8 million copies and who hold a live concert audience record at 200,000 people. But the genre isn’t just about bands. Singer Hikaru Utada is one of the best-known J-Pop artists outside Japan, while Kyari Pamyu Pamyu is also a hugely popular icon, adored by hordes of Japanese teenagers for her catchy tunes, sugary-sweet lyrics, and hyper-cute Harajuku-inspired style.

If simple pop music isn’t your thing, you can explore an endless supply of unique Japanese twists to different music genres, like the hugely popular Babymetal. This seemingly impossible blend of super-cute and death metal takes the form of an all-girl trio decked out in gothic Lolita and dolly-kei chic, with incredible talent and quality songs that ensure the fashion statement doesn’t overpower the music. The band has dominated the live arena with the help of their highly talented backing group, the Kami Band.

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enter The Live House Scene

There’s more to enjoy than just the world of the pop idols, with a contemporary music palette that offers incredible breadth and diversity. Outside the mainstream, experimental music, electronica, and melodic pop have grown to share sound space with hip-hop, dub, and rave. To fully immerse yourself in these new sounds, your best option is to head to a live house. These Japanese institutions serve up jazz, electronica, heavy rock, thrash metal, folk, and punk in large doses, often combining the different styles. There are people on stage who shouldn’t give up their day job, and some who you can’t believe are playing in a venue this tiny. A true live house is usually small and dark, and customers come to appreciate the music—it’s a serious business, and many spectators don’t even drink. The best-known bands often have no actual success outside of the sphere of the performance, making it truly a moment in time, a microcosm of creativity and appreciation that takes place nightly across Japan. Shows usually kick off in the early evening with a lineup of four or five bands, and will be finished in time for you to catch the last train home or hit the local bars or late-night eateries.

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