BORJA SANCHEZ 3ºB

SITUATION ON MAPSITUATION ON MAP

• Situated continent, the Japanese Situated continent, the Japanese archipelago is bounded on the N by archipelago is bounded on the N by the Sea of Okhotsk, on the E and S by the Sea of Okhotsk, on the E and S by the Pacific Ocean, on the SW by the the Pacific Ocean, on the SW by the East China Sea, and on the W by the East China Sea, and on the W by the Sea of Japan / East Sea.Sea of Japan / East Sea.off the eastern edge of the Asian off the eastern edge of the Asian

SIZE OF JAPANSIZE OF JAPAN

• The total area of Japan is 377,835 sq The total area of Japan is 377,835 sq km (145,883 sq mi). Comparatively, km (145,883 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Japan is slightly the area occupied by Japan is slightly smaller than the state of California. It smaller than the state of California. It extends 3,008 km (1,869 extends 3,008 km (1,869 mi) NE – SW and 1,645 km (1,022 mi) NE – SW and 1,645 km (1,022 mi) SE – NW and has a total coastline mi) SE – NW and has a total coastline of 29,751 km (18,486 mi).of 29,751 km (18,486 mi).

POPULATION AND CAPITALPOPULATION AND CAPITAL

• Japan's population is over 126 million. Japan's population is over 126 million. Most Japanese reside in densely populated Most Japanese reside in densely populated urban areasurban areas.. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. Japan's capital city is Tokyo. The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area including the city, some of its Area including the city, some of its suburbs and the surrounding area is suburbs and the surrounding area is approximately 12 million.approximately 12 million.

YENYENTHE JAPANESE THE JAPANESE

MONEYMONEY

• The Japanese yen is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most-traded

currency in the foreign exchange

market after United States dollar and the euro.

The oldest forms of traditional The oldest forms of traditional Japanese music are shōmyō Buddhist Japanese music are shōmyō Buddhist chanting, and gagaku orchestral court chanting, and gagaku orchestral court music.music.

• Shōmyō is a style Shōmyō is a style of Japanese of Japanese Buddhist chant, Buddhist chant, used mainly in the used mainly in the Tendai and Shingon Tendai and Shingon sects.There are two sects.There are two styles: ryokyoku styles: ryokyoku and rikkyoku, and rikkyoku, described as described as difficult and easy to difficult and easy to remember, remember, respectively. respectively.

INSTUMENTS OF SHOMYOINSTUMENTS OF SHOMYO

• In early Japan, Bhuddist chants, In early Japan, Bhuddist chants, called "sutra," were done for a called "sutra," were done for a wide variety of occasions. They wide variety of occasions. They were, by 683, commonly were, by 683, commonly accompanied by accompanied by percussion percussion instrumetnsinstrumetns (cymbals, drums,  (cymbals, drums, gongs, handbells) and gongs, handbells) and pipespipes. The . The sutra formed the foundation of a sutra formed the foundation of a later genre of vocal music, called later genre of vocal music, called shomyo. shomyo. The vocal element of The vocal element of nohnoh theater  theater originated from shomyo. All originated from shomyo. All singing done in noh is chanted singing done in noh is chanted based on the patterns which were based on the patterns which were created by shomyo. The created by shomyo. The instruments used to accompany instruments used to accompany the chants include the chants include flutesflutes, three , three types of types of drumsdrums (hanging, hip, and  (hanging, hip, and shoulder), and the drummers’ shoulder), and the drummers’ shouts. (“Japanese Music” 2004).  shouts. (“Japanese Music” 2004). 

GAGAKUGAGAKUGagaku (, literally "elegant music") is a type of Gagaku (, literally "elegant music") is a type of

Japanese classical music for several Japanese classical music for several centuries. It consists of three primary centuries. It consists of three primary

repertoires:repertoires:

1.1. Native Shinto religious music and folk Native Shinto religious music and folk songs and dance, called songs and dance, called kuniburi no utamaikuniburi no utamai

2.2. A Goguryeo and Manchurian form, called A Goguryeo and Manchurian form, called komagakukomagaku (named for Koma, one of the (named for Koma, one of the

Three Kingdoms)Three Kingdoms)

3.3. A Chinese and South Asia form (specifically A Chinese and South Asia form (specifically Tan Dynasty), called Tan Dynasty), called togakutogaku..

Gagaku, like shomyo, employs the Yo scale, a Gagaku, like shomyo, employs the Yo scale, a pentatonic scale with ascending intervals pentatonic scale with ascending intervals

of two, three, two, and two semitones of two, three, two, and two semitones between the five scale tones. between the five scale tones.

INSTUMENTS OF GAGAKUINSTUMENTS OF GAGAKU

• HEIKE BIWAHEIKE BIWA• The biwa is used in Gagaku and there are many The biwa is used in Gagaku and there are many

old pieces imported from China of a legendary old pieces imported from China of a legendary sensitivity, but such pieces have not been sensitivity, but such pieces have not been transmitted and can only be imagined. transmitted and can only be imagined. However, in the Kamakura Period, a new form However, in the Kamakura Period, a new form of narrative music appeared, played by blind of narrative music appeared, played by blind musicians in the guise of priests.musicians in the guise of priests.

• TSURI-DAIKOTSURI-DAIKO• One generic term for the many styles of drums One generic term for the many styles of drums

in Japan is in Japan is daiko daiko , a broad range of cylindrically , a broad range of cylindrically shaped instruments that have a drum head shaped instruments that have a drum head either tacked on directly to the body or either tacked on directly to the body or attached by ropes or cords.The tsuri-daiko, also attached by ropes or cords.The tsuri-daiko, also known as a "hanging drum", is a shallow, round known as a "hanging drum", is a shallow, round instrument often suspended in a circular instrument often suspended in a circular wooden or metal frame with an upright stand. wooden or metal frame with an upright stand. The wood or metal stand is heavily lacquered The wood or metal stand is heavily lacquered and carved, and often has a beautiful flame and carved, and often has a beautiful flame ornament made from brass. In Chinese, this ornament made from brass. In Chinese, this ornament is called the ornament is called the kwa-yen kwa-yen ..

EXAMPLE OF GAGAKU EXAMPLE OF GAGAKU MUSICMUSIC