Masterpieces of Japanese instrumental music. Recommended instrumental tracks.
We’re introducing recommended masterpieces and popular tracks from among Japan’s signature instrumental songs.
Even when we say “instrumental,” there are countless pieces—guitar solos, piano works, bands, jazz—spanning a truly wide range.
Many of you may be unsure where to start listening.
We’ve included plenty of selections, so you’re sure to find a favorite track!
Enjoy a dream playlist performed by superstar players who continue to be loved across generations.
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Masterpieces of Japanese instrumental music. Recommended instrumental tracks (71–80)
NewsummerboyNATSUMEN
NATUMEN is famous as a band that transcends genre boundaries such as progressive, hardcore, jazz, improvisation, and rock.
The track that best represents them, Newsummerboy, is a song that showcases both intensity and outstanding technical skill.
jah jhakakuruucrew
KURUUCREW are known for their connections with globally acclaimed figures representing the noise scene—such as Masaya Nakahara, Incapacitants, and MELT-BANANA.
Jah jhaka, a danceable noise music band emblematic of Tokyo’s underground scene, offers tracks that are well worth listening to.
IbukiYoshida Kyōdai
A masterful sound strummed on two shamisen.
I believe that preserving Japanese traditional culture can also mean choosing to fuse it with different worlds.
The dynamically driven strings present music that seems to reveal that very meaning.
Wings ~Hoping for the FUTURE~Oshio Kotaro
Kotaro Oshio’s music, crafted on a single guitar to evoke the sounds of various instruments, continues to produce richly expressive pieces.
With phrasing that conjures the image of soaring on wide wings, this wonderful track fills your heart with the urge to leap out into the world right now.
Enveloped by the starry skyTogi Hideki
This is a piece of music used in an NHK program about space.
The timbre expressed through traditional Japanese instruments, handed down since ancient times, effectively conveys to listeners both the mysterious depth of the cosmos and a floating sensation, as if drifting in outer space.
It is a very soothing composition.
Le RhôneHattori Katsuhisa
A piece that is popular in Japan as a piano practice song.
It is a work by the renowned composer Katsuhisa Hattori, but I’ve heard that it’s very easy for pianists to play.
Still, its familiar melody is truly unforgettable.
Perhaps its simplicity combined with memorability is what makes it a masterpiece.
Ballad for Major TakahashiNRQ
A four-piece band that uses uncommon instruments like the erhu, mandolin, double bass, and steelpan.
Their sound feels exotic yet somehow nostalgic, carrying a mysterious charm that makes listening to them simply delightful.
They’re definitely ones to watch.