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)
company retreatSAKEROCK
An instrumental band formed around Gen Hoshino, who has become so famous that there may be hardly anyone in Japan who doesn’t know him now.
The songs penned by a young man who idolized the Crazy Cats carried a touch of humor while wielding heartwarming melodies, earning the love of many.
Although the band unfortunately disbanded, these are masterpieces that should be passed down as music Japan has cherished.
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.
Masterpieces of Japanese instrumental music. Recommended instrumental tracks (81–90)
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.
whistle of the windŌshima Michiru
Composed by Michiru Oshima for the NHK morning drama series “Asuka” and performed by Fumihiro Miyamoto—an internationally renowned oboist and the father of violinist Emiri Miyamoto—this piece exudes an elegant timbre that makes it perfect for morning listening.
It’s sure to help you start your day feeling refreshed.
TorukiaKanno Yōko
This is a work by Yoko Kanno, whose talent sprouted from game and anime music and who has now become a world-renowned composer.
She reportedly doesn’t prefer to use sequencing, but when it’s requested or suits the concept of a piece, her ability to create such magnificent music is truly awe-inspiring.
On top of that, the mystical melody carried by the chorus lingers in the ears.
bass drumKodō
Taiko, a percussion instrument Japan can be proud of.
This piece by Kodo challenges the possibilities of the taiko.
You can’t produce sound with just your hands; to draw out a good tone, you must channel the muscles from every corner of your body into the strike.
The sound of an instrument played with one’s very life is, unsurprisingly, electrifying.