Japanese music, like Japanese culture, is often thought to be monolithic, but in fact there is and always has been great musical diversity within Japan. This course will give a basic overview of major folk, popular, and art genres currently performed in Japan and their historical relationships to one another and to the rest of the world's music. This course will include interactive components including workshops by guest performers. Students will also undertake research projects focused on a musical performance and present brief in-class presentations during the final weeks of class.