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 (81–90)
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.
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.
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.
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.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced a wide range of music—from TV theme songs and movie tracks to band pieces, piano and guitar solos, jazz, and even shamisen.
Did you find a favorite instrumental song? We chose from a truly broad spectrum, including familiar tunes and even bands you might be surprised to learn a certain person once belonged to.
Be sure to look for that one track that becomes your favorite.