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

three-starTogi Hideki

Rikugien in Autumn Foliage — Piece: Mitsuboshi; Performance: Hideki Togi, Gagaku Musician

Many people were surely captivated by its beautiful tones when it was featured as the CM song for Suntory’s “Pico Mitsuboshi Tea.” This piece epitomizes Hideki Togi, a gagaku musician who pursues fusion with contemporary music.

The synths, shimmering like light pouring from the heavens, meld with the deep, mystical timbre of the hichiriki that evokes the earth, inviting listeners into a vast sonic world.

The track is included on the album “TOGISM,” released in February 1998, and has also been used in bridal scenes.

Whether you want to focus on work or study, or sink into contemplation on a quiet night, why not lend an ear to this melody?

fireworks (launched into the sky)AUN J kurashikku ōkesutora

Kenshi Yonezu “Uchiage Hanabi” Japanese instruments cover | KENSHI YONEZU “UCHIAGE HANABI” cover (Japanese instruments only)

Composed solely of traditional Japanese instruments, the AUN J Classic Orchestra is a music ensemble that fuses Japanese tradition with a contemporary sensibility.

In this work, they skillfully express the fleeting lights that color the summer night sky and the bittersweet feelings of love layered over them through the sounds of shakuhachi, koto, and taiko.

Precisely because there are no vocals, the listener’s imagination is stirred, and the emotionally rich melodies resonate deeply.

If you listen on a quiet night at summer’s end, you may feel the profound timbre of the Japanese instruments gently seep into your heart.

The Legend of AshitakaYoshimura Naoya

Gagaku performance of “Ashitaka Sekki” from Princess Mononoke

It’s a grand piece that accompanies the protagonist’s departure in Studio Ghibli’s 1997 film Princess Mononoke.

In Naoya Yoshimura’s performance on the ryūteki (dragon flute), the original’s dramatic melody is masterfully reimagined through the sonorities of gagaku instruments centered on the ryūteki.

Infused with the unique sensibility of Yoshimura, who also serves as a Shinto priest, the video blends a mythic mystique with the original’s power—and has surpassed 1.1 million views on YouTube.

Whether you want to focus on work or study, or calm your mind at night, listening to it can help you reflect deeply on yourself while letting your thoughts wander across the ages.

Eternal Landkafuugetsu

Kafuu Tsuki “Land of Eternity” Official Music Video

This is a grand instrumental piece where a lyrical piano melody intertwines with the deep breath of the shakuhachi and the delicate timbre of the koto.

Composed by Yuko Suzuhana, who is also a master of shigin (traditional Japanese recitation), the absence of lyrics allows the musical dialogue among the three instruments to paint vast natural landscapes directly in the listener’s mind.

The track is included on Hanaze’s album “Awaki Utsutsu ni Yume Kasane,” released in June 2017.

Its sound, evoking the flow of eternal time, is perfect for calming nights or moments when you want to immerse yourself in creative work.

Luv LetterDJ Okawari

Luv Letter

With a heart-wrenching piano melody and beautiful strings that gently awaken distant memories, DJ Okawari’s piece unfolds like an unsent letter filled with longing—painful yet warm, soaking deeply into the heart.

This track is included on the album “Mirror,” released in June 2009, and became widely known when figure skater Daisuke Takahashi used it for his exhibition program, pairing it with a moving, unforgettable performance.

For those who wish to indulge in a sentimental mood but find it hard to be honest with themselves, listening to this work may help you face your feelings and quietly let the tears fall.

Etenraku

Gagaku: Etenraku

It is a celebrated masterpiece of gagaku, Japan’s ancient court music.

Its solemn and graceful melody resounds like music from the heavens, drawing listeners into the flow of eternal time.

Numerous artists have recorded it, and you can enjoy traditional performances in multiple modes such as hyōjō and ōshikichō.

In recent years, innovative arrangements have breathed new life into the piece—for example, shamisen virtuoso Hiromitsu Agatsuma’s “Etenraku Gensōkyoku” on his album Tradition & Innovation — Ki.

When you wish to calm your mind and reflect on Japan’s history, why not give it a listen?

Come, spring.Wagakki Ansanburu Masu

Spring, Come — Japanese Traditional Instruments ver. — Japanese traditional musical instruments ensemble “MAHORA”

This work carries a bittersweet yet beautiful tone that seeps into the heart, as if the signs of spring are rising within a pale light.

Through the plucking of the koto and the breath of the shakuhachi, memories of days gone by and the yearning anticipation for spring are conveyed with greater depth and nuance.

Released in March 2020 by the Japanese-instrument ensemble Mashu and included on the album “Yawarakai Sora,” this arrangement is based on an original song widely loved as the theme for an NHK morning drama series.

As the seasons turn and you find yourself lost in thought, this gentle melody may softly wrap around your heart.