Grade 8 Worksheet No.

1
MUSIC Japanese Music
Quarter 2-Wk.1-Module 1

Through this lesson, you will discover the traditional music of Japan through their
vocal (folk songs) and instrumental music. Japanese vocal music is quite different from the
Western vocal music, and is based on the intervals of human breathing rather than
mathematical timing, and how Japanese musicians show their spiritual self-mastery in
mastering his or her instrument more than simply perfecting a technique of some sort and
how they give value to their performance and composure

MELCs:
 Listen perceptively to music of East Asia (Japan, China, and Korea) (MU8SE-IIa-h-2)
 Analyzes musical elements of selected songs and instrumental pieces heard and
performed. (MU8SE-IIc-h-4)

EXPLORE:
Direction: From the pictures of costumes, folk symbols, artworks, scenery and other aspects
of culture of the East Asian countries (Japan, China, and Korea); identify the origin of the
objects. Write your answers on your activity notebook.

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

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9. 10.

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15.

LEARN:
Japanese music, the art concerned with combining vocal or instrumental sounds for

beauty of form or emotional expression, specifically as it is carried out in Japan. 

Korea served as a bridge to Japan for many Chinese musical ideas as well as exerting

influence through its own forms of court music. Also to be considered is the presence of

northern Asian tribal traditions in the form of Ainu culture surviving on Hokkaido island.

However, it should be pointed out that the island isolation of Japan allowed it to develop its

own special characteristics without the intense influences of the Chinese giant and

the Mongols so evident in mainland cultures. Therefore, in the ensuing discussion all the

“foreign” elements are placed in the matrix of traditions and styles that are characteristically

Japanese.

Instrumental Music of Japan

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 Traditional Japanese music is basically meditative in character. Its performance is

highly ritualized, as much in the music itself, as in the composure of the musicians when

performing it. Japanese chamber and solo music have a slow meditative pace. The

performance of Japanese music has traditionally been of a spiritual character, similarly to

martial arts and other forms of art such as the tea ceremony and calligraphy. It is usually

about religious festivals, work, dance, love, and regional songs.

A. Percussion Instruments (Membranophone)

1. Odaiko – (big drum) the physical

energy and sheer excitement of an
Odaiko performance is an integral part of
many Japanese matsuri (festival).

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/287245282457248183/

2. Tsuzumi (hourglass-shaped) – there are two

varieties; the smaller Kotsuzumi and the larger
3
Otsuzumi. They are used in both Noh and Kabuki
performances. The Kotsuzumi is held on the right
shoulder and the player alters the tone by
https://japanophilia.xyz/2018/02/13/wadaiko-japanese-drum/
squeezing the laces. The Osuzumi is placed on
the left thigh. Like all the other traditional arts in
Japan, there are several schools of
Tsuzumimatsuri festivals.

3. Tsuri-daiko – is a large drum also known

as Gaku-daiko. It is hung on a wooden frame
with legs and is played by two plectrums on
only one side.
http://kitanodaigagakukai.web.fc2.com/gagaku4-e.html

4. Taiko – is a Japanese drum that comes in

various sizes and is used to play a variety of
musical genres. It is essential element of
Japanese festivals and rituals. Drumming has
always been connected with festivals and
religious events and ceremonies at shrines and
temples, with the meaning of both warding off
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evils and summoning the deities.
https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/japanese-taiko.html

B. String Instruments (Chordophone)

1. Koto – is a 13-stringed zither, about two

metes using picks on the thumb and first
fingers of the right hand, while the left hand
can be used to modify pitch and tone. Koto
is used in an ensemble in Gagaku or as a
solo

2. Shamisen – is a plucked stringed instrument. Its

construction follows a model similar to that of a guitar or a
banjo, employing a neck, and strings stretched across a
resonating body. The neck of the Shamisen is fretless, and is
slimmer that of a guitar or a banjo.

3. Biwa – is a Japanese short-necked fretted lute,

often used in narrative storytelling. The Biwa is
the chosen instrument of Benten, the goddess of
music, eloquence, poetry, and education in
Japanese Shinto.

C. Wind Instruments (Aerophone

1. Shakuhachi – the most famous flute made from bamboo. It

has 4 or 5 finger holes on the front face and a thumbhole on the
rear face. As with other instruments above, it was imported
from China for Gagaku.

2. Nokan – a parallel, a bamboo flute

(fue) is the only melodic instrument used
in Noh. The melody of the flute has no
specific pitch relationship with the
melody of the chanting.
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 3. Hichiriki – is a double reed Japanese flute (fue) used as
one of the two main melodic instruments in Japanese Gagaku
music, the other being the Ryuteki.

4. Sho – is a Japanese free reed musical

instrument that was introduced from China during
the Nara period.

5. Shinobue – also called Takebue in the context of

Japanese traditional arts, is a Japanese transverse flute
(fue) that has a high-pitched sound.

Ryūteki – literally means “dragon flute”, is a

Japanese transverse flute made of bamboo. It
is used in Gagaku.

Vocal Music of Japan

The main tone of Japanese music has two modes; the Yo-sen and the In-sen.
Both consist of five primary tones based on a scale with seven tones. The two remaining
tones are considered as auxiliary tones. The ancient melody of Japanese music is
commonly based on these modes. However, one melody is not always in one mode
alone. The melody of Japanese music commonly shifts on both modes. They often give
emphasis on the second to fourth tone of the mode.

Yo-sen Mode

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In-sen Mode

ENGAGE:
Song Analysis
Direction: Sing the Yo-sen scale and the song “Sakura”. Analyze the different musical

elements used.

Suggested Youtube channel link: Eugene Waraynon

Sakura – Cherry Blossoms is a traditional

Japanese song depicting spring, the
season of Cherry Blossoms.

Sakura Cherry Blossom

Sakura, sakura Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms

Yayoi no sorawa Across the spring sky

mi-watasukagiri As far as you can see

kasumika kumoka Is it a mist or a clouds?

6|Page nioizo izuru Fragrant in the air

izaya zaya Come now, come

https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001976/

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the message and function of the song?

2. Describe how the musical elements reflect Japanese Culture? (Copy the table)

Musical Elements Description that reflects Japanese Culture

TIMBRE

DYNAMICS

RHYTHM

MELODY

FORM

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APPLY:
Matching Type: Match Column A with Column B

Column A Column B
1. a. Koto

2. b. Sho

3. c. Shamisen

4. d. Tsuridaiko

5. e. Hichiriki

6. f. Taiko

7. g. Shakuhachi

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 8. h. Shinobue

9. i. Odaiko

10. j. Biwa

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Key to Corrections:
EXPLORE:
1. China 6. Korea 11. Japan
2. Japan 7. Korea 12. China
3. Korea 8. China 13. Korea
4. Japan 9. Japan 14. Japan
5. China 10. Korea 15. China

APPLY:
1. b 6. d
2. a 7. c
3. i 8. h
4. g 9. e
5. f 10. j

10 | P a g e