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A three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The shamisen has been used in various forms of music, from theatrical performances like Kabuki and Bunraku to folk and modern music.

A traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to a zither. The koto is traditionally used in ensembles in Japanese court and chamber music.

The style of Japanese Buddhist chant used in Tendai and Shingon sects. It's one of the oldest living forms of vocal music in Japan and is of significant religious importance.

A genre of gagaku associated with the Komagaku tradition, performed exclusively by musicians from the Koma-inu tribe originally from Korea, showcasing the historical cultural exchange between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

A Japanese lute, often used in narrative storytelling, particularly in the Heike Monogatari, an epic account of the Genpei War of the late 12th century.

The classical court music of Japan, which has been performed at the Imperial court since the 7th century. Gagaku includes both orchestral and vocal music and is subdivided into kangen (instrumental) and bugaku (dance).

A form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Noh combines elements of dance, drama, music, and poetry into one highly stylized art form.

A popular Japanese music genre considered reminiscent of traditional Japanese music, with its melodramatic ballads expressing feelings of longing, melancholy, or love.

A genre of traditional Japanese transverse flutes, which can be made of bamboo or wood. Each type varies in size and is used in different genres of Japanese music, from folk to classical.

A genre of music from Okinawa that blends traditional Ryukyuan musical elements with modern pop influences, known for the use of the sanshin.

A traditional genre of koto music, often accompanied by singing. It emerged as a popular salon music during the Edo period among the samurai and the nobility.

A genre of traditional Japanese folk music which encompasses a wide variety of local styles. It often includes themes from rural life and is accompanied by traditional instruments like the shamisen.

A broad range of Japanese percussion instruments, taiko means 'drum' in Japanese. Taiko drumming has a mythological origin in Japanese folklore and is used in religious ceremonies, festivals, and concerts.

Traditional music of the Ryukyu Islands; deeply connected to the history and culture of Okinawa. It has a distinct pentatonic scale and often accompanies local dances.

A type of long narrative song accompanying the Kabuki theater, featuring the shamisen and often highlighting dramatic themes.

A genre of Japanese chamber music featuring voice and shamisen, typically performed in a more intimate setting like tea houses, and often of a lyrical or poetic nature.

A Japanese end-blown flute made of bamboo traditionally played by the Zen Buddhist monks as a form of meditation and now used in various types of music, including traditional and contemporary.

A traditional Japanese dance festival originating from Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku. The associated music is characterized by its simple, repetitive phrases and lively rhythms.

A genre of shamisen music originating from the Tsugaru region in Japan, known for its fast pace and energetic style, often involving improvisation.