Fantastic double CD of an introduction to Japanese traditional music. Just about everything is covered here. All the styles, from very ancient (jomon) stone whistles, gagaku (the oldest classical music in the world) shomyo (Buddhist chants) and noh. All the instruments, shakuhachi, koto, shamisen, biwa and kokyu. The music of Okinawa, the Ainu, urban and local. Traditional, modern, new recordings, archive recordings. Comes with informative English liner notes. A landmark release for those who want the definitive guide to Japanese traditional music.
