Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
When we hear the term “classical music,” many of us immediately think of works by well-known foreign composers.
These pieces are often used in various everyday contexts with different arrangements, and there are many works that people have naturally heard at least once and can name right away.
However, if you’re asked to name classical works by Japanese composers, fewer people may be able to answer quickly.
Here, we focus on classical music composed by Japanese composers and highlight representative works.
This is recommended even for those who regularly enjoy classical music but haven’t listened much to works by Japanese composers.
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Symphonic Poem “Flower of the Mandala”Yamada Kōsaku
Kosaku Yamada is a pioneering figure in Western music in Japan.
While he is generally strongly associated with children’s songs such as “Akatombo” (Red Dragonfly), he also left behind fully fledged symphonies.
This piece was inspired by a poem written by Yamada’s close friend when he sensed his father’s impending death.
Cello ConcertoOdaka Naotada
Although it was composed for my brother-in-law, Mr.
Takashi Kurata, the complete premiere could not be realized due to the harsh conditions during the war.
The first full performance took place twenty years after Otaka’s death, given by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
The cellist at that time was Ko Wakabayashi.
It is a conservative work in the classical three-movement structure, possessing a classical beauty.
Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music (31–40)
On the night of GethsemaneMatsumura Teizō
Teizo Matsumura was a composer who created numerous film scores and choral works.
Influenced by traditional Asian music, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1990.
His late orchestral piece “In the Night of Gethsemane” was inspired by reproductions of paintings depicting Jesus Christ.
Its dynamic sound, which conveys profound sorrow, leaves a strong impression.
The thrilling yet bold orchestral performance evokes both the vigor and the fragility of life.
It is a masterpiece in which the timbres of wind instruments—beginning with the flute and clarinet—unfold dramatically.
Symphony No. 1Abe Kōmei
A thrilling masterpiece brimming with speed and excitement.
While Western-style harmony is skillfully employed, you can also sense a distinctly Japanese sensibility in places.
In the third movement, following the clarinet’s first theme, the horn boldly presents the second theme, and the impact here is considerable.
It’s something you won’t forget after a single listen.
Ohmutakara, Opus 20Yamada Kazuo
Composer Kazuo Yamada, known for his contributions to Japan’s classical music scene, conducted orchestras from before the war and performed on numerous stages both at home and abroad.
Among his works, “Ohomutakara, Op.
20” evokes an especially grand narrative.
Its orchestral sound resonates in harmony with Japan’s beautiful natural landscapes.
The piece masterfully expresses stillness and motion, resulting in a dramatic work.
It is Japanese classical music that conveys a bright, resolute will.
If you enjoy period dramas or historical series, this is a must-listen.
Symphony No. 1Hashimoto Kunihiko
Composed in 1940, the Symphony No.
1—also referred to as Symphony No.
1 in D major—was written by Kunihiko Hashimoto as a celebratory work for the 2600th year of the Imperial Era.
Considered to have strong elements of propaganda, it is a symphony that remained suppressed for a long time after the war.
It has been described as a work that incorporates elements mindful of Kigensetsu within an approachable orchestral atmosphere, and it is sometimes performed using ancient instruments such as the Japanese taiko.
It is a symphony that can also prompt reflection on the circumstances of the time in which it was composed.
Symphony No. 5 “Simplex”Ikebe Shinichirō
In the opening of the first movement, the main theme appears abruptly and unfolds in an ostinato-like manner.
The second movement shifts dramatically in mood and becomes melodic, but in the third movement a persistent ostinato returns.
Despite being titled “Simplex,” the piece develops with full-on complexity—classic Ikebe world on full display.