[Japanese-style Piano Pieces] A selection of recommended works with a pleasantly Japanese flavor
The piano is an instrument born in Europe.
Classical music is a musical style that developed in the West.
If you mainly practice classical works, you may naturally end up focusing on pieces infused with European essence, and it might be rare to feel a sense of “Wa” (Japanese aesthetics) while playing the piano.
So in this article, for those who want to try playing piano pieces that convey a distinctly Japanese flavor, we’ll introduce a wide selection of Japan-inspired piano works.
Even within the label “Japanese style,” the roots and forms of the pieces vary widely—from works composed by European composers inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e to sets of variations based on children’s songs.
Please enjoy listening while comparing the different expressions of “Japaneseness” in each work and savoring how interpretations of “Japanese style” vary from one composer to another!
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[Japanese-style Piano Pieces] A Curated Selection of Comfortingly Japanese Works (1–10)
Fusō Song: Japan MarchCharles Leroux
Charles Leroux was a musician and composer born in France in 1851, who also served as a captain in the French Army and received decorations.
His 1886 composition Fusōka: Japanese March reflects Japanese tradition and spirituality, expressing loyalty to the nation and the Emperor, and a wish for everlasting peace and prosperity.
Leroux also made significant contributions to musical culture, helping to improve the skills of army bands and establishing the Military Band Regulations.
Conveying the loyalty and spirit of service expected of every citizen through its grand melody, this piece is well suited for performance at ceremonies.
Variations on the Theme of “Kojo no Tsuki”Hirai Kōsaburō
Yasuzaburō Hirai created a wide range of works spanning both instrumental and vocal music, and he was deeply involved in music education, composing school songs for elementary and junior high schools as well.
Variations on the Theme of “Kōjō no Tsuki” is a set of variations Hirai composed based on Rentarō Taki’s celebrated piece “Kōjō no Tsuki.” In each variation, while drawing on the melody’s richly expressive character and offering technical challenges to enjoy, the work also reflects Hirai’s musical vision of reinterpreting Japanese traditional music for new audiences.
Japanese SuiteOdaka Naotada
Masatada Odaka is a leading Japanese composer of contemporary music, known for his unique style that fuses elements of Western tradition and Japanese traditional music.
One of his representative works is the Japanese Suite, premiered in 1936.
Composed with the intention of translating traditional Japanese music into the language of Western tonality and discovering a new means of expression for the Japanese spirit, this work conveys the composer’s deep desire to depict Japan’s landscapes and culture through music.
It is highly recommended for those who wish to feel a sense of “Japaneseness” or who would like to experience Odaka’s musical world.
Sakura VariationsMiyagi Michio
Among the signature works of Michio Miyagi, a composer who greatly contributed to the modernization of traditional Japanese music, is The Sea in Spring for koto and shakuhachi.
But the piece often performed and loved on the piano is this Variations on “Sakura.” Composed in 1923, it is based on the old Japanese folk song Sakura Sakura and consists of eight variations.
By adopting the Western variation form, the piece conveys Miyagi’s distinctive musical world, portraying a variety of expressions on the theme of cherry blossoms, the symbol of spring in Japan.
Suite ‘Mirrors’ No. 3 ‘A Boat on the Ocean’Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel, influenced by Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy, elevated the possibilities of the piano to new heights.
His suite Miroirs was composed in 1905, and the third piece, Une barque sur l’océan (A Boat on the Ocean), was dedicated to the painter Paul Sordes.
With a flowing melody that glides like water and dynamic arpeggios that imitate the motion of waves, this work musically depicts the vast seascape and the quiet progress of a small boat—an exemplar of the brilliant beauty and transparency of French Impressionism.
Savor Ravel’s richly colored orchestration and delicate textures.