Transcript Japanese

Japanese
Musical instruments
日本楽器
Shamisen (三味線)
The shamisen is of similar length to a guitar
(ギター) but its neck is much thinner and it has no frets. It has a
Drum like rounded body, know as the dō, it is covered front and
Back with a skin which amplifies the sound similar to a banjo. The
Skin is usually from a cat or a snake but in the past a special type
Of paper was used.
The three strings are traditionally made of silk. The lowest passes over a small hump
at the "nut" end so that it buzzes, creating a sound known as sawari. The upper part
of the dō is almost always protected by a cover known as a dō kake, and players
often wear a little band of cloth on their left hand sliding up and down the neck. This
band is known as a yubikake. There may also be a cover on the head of the
instrument, known as a tenjin.
The shamisen is played with a large plectrum called a bachi (撥), which was traditionally
made with ivory or tortoise shell but now is usually wooden, and is in the shape like a
ginkgo leaf.
Yoshida Brothers are currently bringing back Shamisen into modern culture.
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皮は猫かヘビから作られる
三味線は撥と呼ばれる大きいプレクタルンによって作られている
Koto (琴)
The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto
are about 180 cm
long, and made from kiri wood. They have 13
strings that are strung over 13
movable bridges along the length of the
instrument. Players can adjust the string pitches
by moving these bridges before playing, and use
three finger picks
(on thumb, index finger, and middle finger) to pluck
the strings
Shakuhachi (尺八)
is a Japanese end-blown flute. Its name means "1.8 feet",
referring to its size. It is traditionally made of bamboo,
but now exist in wood and plastic. It was used by the
monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the
practice of suizen (吹禅, blowing meditation)
A recorder player blows into a duct, a narrow wind-way
over a block which is called a "fipple", and thus has
limited pitch control. The shakuhachi player blows as
one would blow across the top of an empty bottle
(though the shakuhachi has a sharp edge to blow
against) and has substantial pitch control.
Horagai (法螺貝)
It is a conch shell, blown as a trumpet, served a
number of purposes in Japanese history. It is called jinkai (陣貝),
horagai (法螺貝), or a number of other names in Japanese
depending on its function.
The conch is perhaps most associated with its use by Buddhist
monks for religious purposes. Its use goes back at least one
thousand years, and it is still used today for some rituals, such as the
omizutori (water drawing) portion of the Shuni-e rites at the Tōdai-ji
in Nara. Unlike most shell trumpets from other parts of the world
which produce only one pitch, the Japanese hora or horagai can produce thre
or four different notes. The process of transforming a shell into an
instrument is kept somewhat secret, but it involves the attachment of a
bronze or wooden mouthpiece to the apex of the shell's spire. At freezing
temperatures (often encountered in the mountainous regions of Japan) the
players moist lips freeze to the metal surface, so some players prefer
wooden or bamboo mouthpieces.
Taiko (太鼓)
means "drum" in Japanese (literally means "great"
or
"wide drum"). Outside Japan, the word is often
used to refer to any
of the various Japanese drums and to the
relatively recent art-form
of ensemble taiko drumming (sometimes called
more specifically,
"kumi-daiko" (組太鼓)).
Japanese Musical Artists
日本の音楽的な芸術家
Dir en grey
ディル・アン・グレイ
• Dir en grey (ディル・アン・グレイ) is a Japanese band formed in 1997
and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As
of 2008, they have recorded seven full-length records and while the
group's lineup has remained consistent since its inception,
numerous stylistic changes have made its music's genre difficult to
determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock
music). Originally associated with Japan's visual kei movement, the
band has opted for less flamboyant attire in recent years.
• Dir en grey has toured through Asia, Europe and North America;
Billboard commenting on the group's international fanbase, that the
band "has transcended the language barrier in the United States
through its music" and "gained its audience without singing in
English".
Mad Capsule Markets
マッド・カプセル・マーケット
• THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS were a Japanese band
that formed in 1990 and were active until 2006. The
band became known for their experimental style of music,
which focused on the fusion of electronic music with
punk rock and heavy metal. In 1999 the band released
their most internationally recognized album to date. OscDis (Oscillator in Distortion) was a more poppy or
melodic take on the sound of Digidogheadlock. It was
released worldwide in 2001, driven by the hugely popular
single "Pulse", which featured on the video game Tony
Hawk's Pro Skater 3. The song and the album became
the group's most well-known outside of Japan. At this
time the band also introduced their robotic "mascots" the
White Crusher and Black Cyborn.
Yoshida Brothers
(吉田兄弟)
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The Yoshida Kyōdai (吉田兄弟) are Japanese musicians and have
released several albums under the Domo Records internationally as the
Yoshida Brothers.
They are a pair of brothers and performers of the traditional Japanese
music style of Tsugaru-jamisen which originated in northern Japan. They
debuted in 1999 in Japan as a duo playing the shamisen. Their first album
sold over 100,000 copies and made them minor celebrities in Japan, a fact
that surprised the Yoshida Brothers themselves. They have since attracted
an international audience.
Their music has been a fusion of the rapid and percussive Tsugaru-jamisen
style along with Western and other regional musical influences. In addition
to performing songs that are only on the shamisen, they also use modern
instruments such as drums and synthesizers.
The commercials for the Nintendo's Wii video game console that began
airing in North America in November 2006 feature the Yoshida Brothers
song, "Kodo (Inside the Sun Remix)."
Orange Range
オレンジレンジ
• Orange Range (オレンジレンジ Orenji Renji) is a 5-member
Okinawan alternative rock band, based in Okinawa.Formed in 2001,
the band began with Spice Music and later signed with Sony Music
Japan’s gr8! records division in 2003. The band has roots in
Okinawa. The area is famous for being the home of many wellknown acts.Before they were signed by a major label, Orange
Range played mostly in small art houses and clubs until they were
found by a record agent. The band is mix of pop- and rock-style
music as can be heard by the vocals and the instrumentals. Their
style is also made up of many different cultures and musical styles
from around the world. This is attributed to their hometown being
Okinawa, a well-known station for American military bases and, thus,
cultures and different styles often blend. Due to high sales of their
works, Orange Range's singles are often attached to various movies,
shows or Japanese products. This is usually seen as a sign of a
band or singer having hit "the big time" in the Japanese media
Girugamesh
ギルガメッシュ
• Girugamesh (ギルガメッシュ) is a Japanese metal band,
formed in 2003. The name is derived from the ancient
king Gilgamesh, and is sometimes typeset with a metal
umlaut as girugämesh. Formed in 2003 in Chiba, Shuu
and Nii had been friends since elementary school, the
earliest incarnation of the band made its first
performance while the members were still in high
school.Girugamesh began playing gigs with their current
lineup in 2004, until they were signed to record label
Gaina-Japan. Their first major single, "Kaisen Sengen"
was ranked #10 on the Oricon Indies chart. In 2005,
Girugamesh embarked on a nation-wide tour, after which
they released their first live DVD, featuring footage from
the tour, and after more touring, released an EP, Goku Shohankei Enban.
Panic Channel
Panic Channel (written パニックちゃんねる or PANIC☆ch,
both pronounced the same way) is an independent
Japanese Visual kei band signed to the label . They
perform under two personas: パニックちゃんねる is their
gothy, Visual Kei side, and PANIC☆ch is a light visual
boy band side. Some fans consider PANIC☆ch to be ,
however, the band itself claims not to be. Panic Channel
(known in Japanese as パニックちゃんねる pronounced
as panikku channeru) was founded by Meguru, Kana,
and Tara in November 2002. In January 2003, the lineup of the band consisted of Meguru (Vo), Kana (G),
Tsubasa (G), Tara (Ba), and Yuusuke (Dr). After two
months, in March 2003 the band decided to show their
“second face.” The alter ego PANIC☆ch was born.