Suddenly, have you ever heard the phrase “Itton Jyobutsu”? This is a phrase from the shakuhachi world, and according to one theory, it means “to reach the state of enlightenment with a single sound. The background of this phrase seems to be related to the role of the shakuhachi as a Buddhist instrument. In earlier Japan, playing the shakuhachi was…
There is a saying in Japan, “If the wind blows, the bucket shop will make money. This means that a certain thing has an unexpected effect on an unexpected place. Why does the wind blow and the bucket shop make a profit? Let us consider the mechanism. (1) In the past, roads were not paved, so when a strong wind…
The sanshin is one of Okinawa’s most popular folk instruments. It is a standard instrument that accompanies Okinawan folk songs and Okinawan pop music with its warm sound, but the sanshin is not the only instrument that accompanies Okinawan folk music. In this article, we will take a deeper look at instruments other than the Okinawa sanshin used in Okinawan…
In Aomori Prefecture, where the Tsugaru shamisen was born, there is a type of music known as the three major Tsugaru folk songs (Tsugaru mitsumono). In this article, we will study the three major Tsugaru folk songs. Tsugaru three major folk songs are “Tsugaru Ohara-bushi”, “Tsugaru Jongara-bushi”, and “Tsugaru Yosare-bushi”. Let me explain about each song… 1. Tsugaru ohara-bushi According…
The shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute, has transcended its native borders and become a beloved instrument in many parts of the world. But what has caused this traditional instrument to gain such significant global attention? In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons behind the international popularity of the shakuhachi. World ｍusic ｍovement The late 20th century witnessed a surge…
Have you ever compared the sound of Western and Japanese musical instruments? In fact, even though they are the same “instruments,” Western and Japanese instruments sound completely different. What are the differences between Western and Japanese instruments? Let’s take a peek. Western instruments are made of man-made materials such as metal and plastic, and therefore produce a crisp, clear sound…
In Japan, there is a custom of listening to scary stories, or ghost stories, in the summer. There are various types of ghost stories, and there are even ghost stories related to Japanese musical instruments. There are movies such as “Kaidan Nazo no Shamisen” and “Koto Kyogen” that remain as examples of this. “Kaidan Nazo no Shamisen” is a Japanese…
Where do you plan to go when you visit Japan? In this issue, I would like to talk about the unexpected relationship between the famous sweets of Kyoto, one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations, and Japanese musical instruments. Kyoto’s famous confectionery is “Yatsuhashi”. ”Yatsuhashi” is a kind of Japanese cinnamon cookie. There is also “Nama-Yatsuhashi” (unbaked Yatsuhashi), which is…
