TRADITIONAL

CONTEMPORARY
Young and current musicians, and some older ones too, rooted in tradition exploring new directions. All the main instruments and styles.
CLASSICAL
Folk and traditional styles from throughout Japan. All the instruments and genres of music.
SHM-CD Traditional Music Best
Series of the best 10 traditional albums released on SHM-CD (Super High Material)
VINYL
From traditional to modern fusions
COLUMBIA UHQCD Traditional Music
Classic traditional music albums by Hozan Yamamoto, Tadao Sawai and others from the 1970s and beyond released onto the Ultimate Hi Quality CD format.
TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BEST SELECTION SERIES
Series that showcases the very best of Japanese traditional music and entertainment, from shakuhachi, biwa and koto to kabuki, noh, nagauta and more.
BAMBOO COMPANY
Excellent record label and studio situated near Mount Fuji. Traditional music in contemporary settings.
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC SPECIAL SERIES
Excellent series from Columbia of many traditions performed by the greatest musicians.
JAPANESE TRADITIONAL DANCE SERIES
Music to accompany Japanese tradtional dance such as butoh or in kabuki; gidayu, tokiwazu, nagauta and kiyomoto.
COLEZO! SERIES
Superb series of the greatest traditional musicians playing koto, shakuhachi, tsugaru shamisen, taiko drums, taishokoto. Plus noh, gagaku, minyo, and excellent 2CD guides to minyo and choral music.
KYOTO RECORDS
Releases of classical and contemporary traditional music from this excellent independent label. Most releases come with exemplary English liner notes.
MASTERS OF JAPAN
Groundbreaking series of 25 CDs. The greatest masters, the greatest compositions of all the major traditions and instruments.
LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE SERIES
Series that focuses on Living National Treasures of traditional music, performing instruments such as shamisen, koto, shakuhachi, and styles including Nagauta and Gidayu.
TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
The wonderful world of traditional entertainments, from peddling toad oil on the streets to storytelling, haikara (refined) songs, old downtown Tokyo hits and sumo jinku, ex-sumo wrestlers excercising their vocal chords.
JAPANESE STREET ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
Japanese Traditional Steeet Entertainment, including storytelling with pictures, marching bands and street sellers.
KING RECORDS' JAPANESE TRADITIONAL MUSIC' SERIES
Award winning series of excellent recordings by top musicians performing the most important traditional styles.Comes with English liner notes. Sound samples of all titles.
MUSIC OF JAPANESE PEOPLE
Excelent series of folk songs, work songs, festival music, soundscapes and unusual instruments.Comes with English liner notes.
KING BEST SELECT LIBRARY
2007 series of mainly Japanese traditional and pre and post-war pop / enka.