BORJA SANCHEZ 3ºB

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

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

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

YEN THE JAPANESE MONEY The Japanese The Japanese The Japanese yen is 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 Japanese music are shōmyō Buddhist chanting, and gagaku orchestral court music.

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

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

GAGAKU Gagaku (, literally "elegant music") is a type of Japanese classical music for several centuries. It consists of three primary repertoires: 1. Native Shinto religious music and folk songs and dance, called kuniburi no utamai 2. A Goguryeo and Manchurian form, called komagaku (named for Koma, one of the Three Kingdoms) 3. A Chinese and South Asia form (specifically Tan Dynasty), called togaku. Gagaku, like shomyo, employs the Yo scale, a pentatonic scale with ascending intervals of two, three, two, and two semitones between the five scale tones.

INSTUMENTS OF GAGAKU HEIKE BIWA HEIKE BIWA The biwa is used in Gagaku and there are many old pieces imported from China of a legendary sensitivity, but such pieces have not been transmitted and can only be imagined. However, in the Kamakura Period, a new form of narrative music appeared, played by blind musicians in the guise of priests. The biwa is used in Gagaku and there are many old pieces imported from China of a legendary sensitivity, but such pieces have not been transmitted and can only be imagined. However, in the Kamakura Period, a new form of narrative music appeared, played by blind musicians in the guise of priests. TSURI-DAIKO TSURI-DAIKO One generic term for the many styles of drums in Japan is daiko, a broad range of cylindrically shaped instruments that have a drum head either tacked on directly to the body or attached by ropes or cords.The tsuri-daiko, also known as a "hanging drum", is a shallow, round instrument often suspended in a circular wooden or metal frame with an upright stand. The wood or metal stand is heavily lacquered and carved, and often has a beautiful flame ornament made from brass. In Chinese, this ornament is called the kwa-yen. One generic term for the many styles of drums in Japan is daiko, a broad range of cylindrically shaped instruments that have a drum head either tacked on directly to the body or attached by ropes or cords.The tsuri-daiko, also known as a "hanging drum", is a shallow, round instrument often suspended in a circular wooden or metal frame with an upright stand. The wood or metal stand is heavily lacquered and carved, and often has a beautiful flame ornament made from brass. In Chinese, this ornament is called the kwa-yen.

EXAMPLE OF GAGAKU MUSIC