邦楽(ほうがく)

ほうがく
noun
Japanese music; traditional Japanese music
leisure
1. Japanese music; traditional Japanese music
Music of Japanese origin, especially traditional forms played on instruments such as the koto, shamisen, and shakuhachi. Contrasts with 洋楽 (Western music).
邦楽(ほうがく)を習(なら)う。
To study Japanese music.
大学(だいがく)の邦楽(ほうがく)サークルで琴(こと)を弾(ひ)いている。
I play the koto in my university's Japanese music club.
この音楽祭(おんがくさい)では、邦楽(ほうがく)と洋楽(ようがく)の両方(りょうほう)を楽(たの)しむことができる。
At this music festival, you can enjoy both Japanese and Western music.

Usage

邦楽(ほうがく) primarily refers to traditional Japanese music genres such as 雅楽(ががく) (court music), 能楽(のうがく) (Noh music), 長唄(ながうた) (a shamisen vocal genre), and 箏曲(そうきょく) (koto music). In some contexts, it may also include modern Japanese popular music (J-pop), though the traditional meaning is more common.

Similar words

Common collocations

  • 邦楽(ほうがく)器(き) (traditional Japanese musical instrument)
  • 邦楽(ほうがく)演奏(えんそう) (performance of Japanese music)
  • 邦楽(ほうがく)サークル (Japanese music club)

Note on homophones

Do not confuse with 方角(ほうがく) (direction, compass bearing), which shares the same reading.

Related Words

Antonym: 洋楽(ようがく) (Western music)
Compare: 雅楽(ががく) (gagaku)
general
Added 2026.3.1 18:57 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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