Japanese Traditional Music
No.	Title	Description	Runtime (min.)
1	GAGAKU	Gagaku is a style of music and dance which came from the continent to Japan 1400 or 1500 years ago.  This is the oldest orchestral music in the world in which every kind of musical instrument is included; wind, string and percussion instruments.  Gagaku is now played almost exclusively on special occasions at the Imperial Palace.	67:15:00
2	NOGAKU	No is a form of drama, combining music and dance which was perfected by Kan-ami and Ze-ami (father and son respectively) in the Muromachi Era.  The music contains no unnecessary notes, eternity finding expression in the simple, intense playing.	62:18:00
3	BIWA	In Shoso-In, in Nara Prefecture, a beautiful Biwa brought to Japan through the Silk Road is preserved.  Japan's oldest epic tale, Heike Monogatari (The Story of Heike), is sung to Biwa accompaniment.  There are three styles of Biwa playing, the Heike Monogatari being performed in all three styles: the noble, cool and profound Heike Biwa; the wild and brave Satsuma Biwa; the graceful and sad Chikuzen Biwa.	63:13:00
4	SO	In the Nara Era (8th century), the Koto was brought from China as one of the instruments used in Gagaku.  In the Edo Era, a remarkable musician called Ytsuhashi kengyo (maestro) established the Rokudan and Midare styles of Koto playing; these styles are still the basis of Japanese Koto playing to this day.  Incidentally, in the year Yatsuhashi died, Bach and handel were born.	64:32:00
5	SANKYOKU	A Sankyoku ensemble consists of the three representative Japanese instruments: Shamisen, Koto and Shakuhachi.  Even though it was only one of a number of musical styles that originated in the Edo Era, the intricate beauty of Sankyoku that springs from the three instruments can be called the first genuine Japanese chamber music.	74:28:00
6	SHAMISEN	In Japan, all instruments and types of music were defined by and deeply related to social class.  The Shamisen was the first "people's" instrument.  It has been said that Japanese people interpret music with the left side of the brain, in which linguistic functions occur, and that this could be a reason why Fushi, or storytelling accompanied by Shamisen, became so popular.	68:27:00
7	PERCUSSION	Gi-on Matsuri (festival) in Kyoto has a history of more than a thousand years, and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri still communicates the feelings of Edo townspeople.  All through history, the people's joy exploded each year in these matsuri.	60:38:00