Track Listing

1. Yamaji - Yamato Ensemble
2. Kabuki Gomen-Jyo! - Wadaiko Matsuriza
3. Komoro Bushi - Clive Bell
4. Futatsu No Den-En-Shi I (Pastoral) - Yamato Ensemble
5. Gaku (Let's Have Fun!) - Wadaiko Matsuriza
6. Kumoi Jishi (Celestial Lion Dance) - Richard Stagg
7. Hoshun [Springtime] - Yamato Ensemble
8. Midare (Disarray)
9. Dzauku (Hunter) - Nihon Daiko

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5738 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

The title of this album is absolutely correct: the BEST
I have some strange affinity for all things Japanese (this has been so since I was a little kid.) And that goes for Japanese music. I love the wild sound of the shakuhachi flute--which sounds like a bird soaring to me. And the sound of the koto is like rain dropping on garden leaves. This album has a fine selection of music ranging from koto and shakuhachi to the syncopated, Polynesian sound of taiko drumming (always a delight.)

My favorites are the Yamato Ensemble's opening koto and shakuhachi "Yamaji" and "Hoshun" (Springtime) and the taiko piece "Gaku" --"Let's Have Fun!" of Wadaiko Matsuriza. But it's hard to choose--as the entire album is truly the best. If you like Japanese music, or want to learn to like it, you cannot go wrong with this delightful sampler. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

mixed feelings
i bought this cd an while ago and never wrote a review, but since i rely so heavily on these review, i figured i better give back. here goes.

some of this cd is phenominal, and some of it could be passed over. not that its not good, just not to my taste. i tend to gravitate more to the soft, drastic contrast between the bamboo flute and the koto, but more soothing sound. the only problem with this cd is that it goes from something like this to a drum routine, that while isnt bad, is so diffrent that is doesnt flow well. id rather use the drum tracks as one cd, and the other music as another.

so in a way, if you have no real idea what types of japanese music you like but you are curious, this is a great cd because it gives a great variety and from this you can isolate sounds you like and shop more educated. in this way it does serve a great purpose, but only temporarily for me...once i found the tracks i liked, i added them to a playlist on my laptop and hardly use the disc anymore.

Good sample of japanese music
this cd offers a good cross section of various genres of japanese music. As can be expected, it is not necessarily a good ambience setting collection, as you go from quiet koto to taiko drums with only a second to adjust :)

the interpretations are reasonably good, sound recording is good

overall, i would recommend it as an introduction to the variety of japanese music