Japanese Music Past and Present Todays Topics 1

Japanese Music: Past and Present

Today’s Topics 1) Japan and the Contemporary Music Industry 2)2) Contemporary Japanese Music 3)3) The Shamisen 4)4) Traditional/Contemporary Fusion 5)5) The Koto

1) Japan and the Contemporary Music Industry

What Has Japan Contributed to the Contemporary Music Scene? • Yamaha • Sony Main Questions: • Who/What are these companies? • How did these companies come to be? • How are they involved in the music industry?

Invention Timeline 1963: 1975: 1979: 1982: 1999: World’s first VCR Doomed Betamax Walkman CD Player technology Minidisc (MD) format Memory Stick digital storage format A Walkman ad

Not Just Inventors… • Label for many Japanese and International stars • World’s 2 nd largest music producer • Multinational: operates music labels in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia Artists published by Sony

Yamaha • World’s largest instrument producer • Thousands of teaching institutes across the globe • Founded in 1887 under the name “Nippon Gakki Company” (Japanese Instrument Company) • Renamed Yamaha for 100 th anniversary

Timeline • 1887: Torakusu Yamaha’s first reed organ • 1900: Pianos, furniture and harmonica’s • 1930’s: Acoustic instruments (guitars and whatnot) • 1960’s: Expanded into brass and wind instruments • 1966: Founded Yamaha music foundation

Instrument Production • Produces types of almost every instrument • Focuses on providing good quality at minimal expense • Supplies almost all of the world’s markets Some Yamaha instruments

Yamaha Music School • First founded in 1966 in Japan • Currently, employ almost 25, 000 teachers • Thousands of schools across 40 countries • Over 5 million graduates • Dedicated to keeping a love for music alive

Schools Around the World

Conclusion • Japanese companies Sony and Yamaha have shaped and maintain a large part of the world music industry as we know it today. • Japan has made major contributions to Every aspect of music, from learning how to play, making instruments, producing records, and developing music technology.

2) Contemporary Japanese Music

Contemporary Japanese Music • There is more to J-pop than just music • Most artists in Japan aren’t just musicians • Johnny’s Junior talent agency: bidanshi fakutorii (pretty boy factory) • Artists featured in this presentation: -Kinki Kids -Morning Musume -Smap -Nice Guy Jin

Kinki Kids • First album sold extremely well after the band generated large amounts of hype • Appeared in Dramas: -Wakaba no Koro (About the Young Generation) -Bokura no Yuuki Miman City (Keys to the City ~ The Kids are in Charge)

Morning Musume • Original 5 members: Aya Isiguro, Natsumi Abe, Asuka Fukuda, Kaori Iida, Yuko Nakazawa • Appeared on talent search program Asayan in 1997 • Number of members has risen to 13 • Started forming sub-groups: Pucchimoni, Minimoni, Tanpopo, Country Musume.

Smap • Originally featured 6 members, but original member Mori Katsuyuki left band in 1996 to pursue his dream as a racecar driver • Originally all members of “Johnny’s Juniors” • Stands for Sports Music Assemble People • SMAPXSMAP debuted in April 1996 Bistro Smap Egg Poker Grassies • Drink! Smap

Nice Guy Jin • Members come from California, Kansas, Hiroshima • “Japanese” rappers formed Nice Guy Jin in 1998 • Met while trying to form another group • Mix of traditional instruments with Hip-Hop • First album, “Now Constracting”, released 2003

3) The Shamisen

Shamisen • Similar to lute • Played using a “Bachi” • Gained popularity in Edo period • Three types of music: singing (utamono), narrative (katarimono) and folk (minyou)

4) Traditional/Contemporary Fusion

Yoshida Kyodai • 1977: Elder brother Ryoichiro is born. • 1979: Younger brother Kenichi is born. • Both start playing Shamisen at age 5

Yoshida Kyodai 1995: Ryoichiro takes 6 th place and Kenichi takes 4 th place in A class of the National Convention of shamisen. Next year, Ryoichiro places 5 th, Kenichi places 4 th 1997: Perform in Denmark 1997: Take part in Kohaku uta gassen. 1999: Release CDs “Hisho” and “Ibuki”. 1999: Ryoichiro took the 2 nd place and Kenichi took 1 st place in the Tsugaru Jamisen competition.

5) The Koto

Koto • 6 feet long • 13 strings • Made of soft Paulownia

Koto • Strings plucked using “tsume” • 3 tsume used to play • Originated from China • Reached Japan in 7 th or 8 th century • Vocal accompaniment began in 16 th century

Recap 1)Japan and the Music Industry • Japan is a major player in the global music industry 2)Contemporary Japanese Music • Many styles, artists are idolized 3)The Shamisen • Similar to lute 4)Traditional/Contemporary Fusion • Yoshida Kyodai, use Shamisen in modern music 5)The Koto • Large, 13 -stringed instrument, originally played without accompaniment

Thank You