[Japanese-style BGM] Beautiful tones woven from Japanese tradition

Sakura Variationssōkyoku

Sakura Variations

Aside from New Year’s, the place you most often hear the koto is at cherry-blossom viewings.

And this piece is indispensable there.

Composed by Michio Miyagi, a leading figure in koto music, it features a refined and beautiful ensemble for two kotos.

It almost makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Japanese restaurant.

Ecchu Owara BushiWakabayashi Michiko

Ecchu Owara Bushi — Michiko Wakabayashi (kokyu)

The kokyū is an instrument shaped like a shamisen and played with a bow like a violin.

It has existed in Japan since ancient times, but is often mistaken for the Chinese erhu because of its timbre and other similarities.

Its piercing, resonant sound carries a tinge of melancholy, leaving a deep impression on the listener.

Nozakirakugo debayashi

Entrance music: Nozaki – Katsura Bunraku VIII

The entrance music used by the rakugo master known as a Shōwa-era great, the Eighth Katsura Bunraku.

In Osaka, it was long used by the Third Katsura Harudanji, who passed away in 2016.

Because masters from both East and West used it, it is now a highly respected piece of entrance music in the rakugo world.

Originally, it was background music from the Gidayū-bushi tradition.

Gagaku Arrangement of ‘Princess Mononoke’Gakūkai

Princess Mononoke Gagaku Arrangement -Princess Mononoke - Gagaku- by Gakukai

Gagaku is court music that uses transverse flutes such as the shō and the hichiriki (nōkan).

It conjures an image of a highly refined world, doesn’t it? In this video, however, there’s a unique twist: the theme song from the film Princess Mononoke is performed in a gagaku style arrangement.

Statement Four Wisdom Sanskrit HopeKōyasan Nanzan Shinryū

Koyasan Nanzan Shinryu Shomyo, Shichi Bon-go, Matsushima Ryukai

A performance based on the Koyasan Nanzan Shinryu sutras, composed, arranged, and structured by Ryukai Matsushima as before: “Shomyo Shichi Bongo: Hope.” It is a hymn that single-mindedly praises the teachings handed down from the principal deity of Esoteric Buddhism, Mahavairocana (Dainichi Nyorai), and his four kinds of wisdom.

Among shomyo pieces, it is one of the most popular—so powerful that you might find yourself hearing it anywhere in the world.

While it can be enjoyed purely as music in a Japanese-style BGM vein, it is, of course, also a profoundly venerable work.

Bittersweet Japanese-style BGM

[Japanese-style BGM] Soothing Melodies: A Bittersweet Japanese-style 23-Track Medley [For Work/Study, Royalty-Free]

A calm, gently flowing medley of Japanese-style music soothes the heart.

This nearly hour-and-a-half-long piece, centered on computer music, feels as if it captures the changing seasons of Japan.

The delicate tones of traditional instruments blend beautifully with modern sounds.

It’s perfect as background music when you’re short on sleep or want to unwind and forget the day’s fatigue.

Why not let the pleasant timbres envelop you and spend some unhurried time at your own pace?

Japanese-style EDM compilationOmunibasu (“Koto” by Clozee… )

[Japanese Style] Japan’s Strongest!! A collection of 15 beautifully traditional-feeling divine EDM recommendations!! Best of Japanese Style EDM Mix!! Cool Japanese-style, Japanese-style BGM, popular tracks [Background Music for Work]

Have you ever listened to EDM at a club, felt a distinctly Japanese vibe in some tracks, then gone looking for them only to have trouble finding the exact song you wanted? This is a 13-track collection featuring items like Maturbo’s “Warrior” and Aiobahn’s “Towa no Utage.” It’s a handy YouTube reference for those “What was that Japanese-style EDM track again?” moments.