Origins
Music in Japan has always been present, but the question is where exactly did it start? There was early evidence of Japanese music that archaeologists have discovered materials and pottery from the "Stone Age" giving them evidence of music in Japan approximately 12,000 years ago. They discovered dōtaku bronze bells from the Yayoi period (300 BCE) that gave proof that the people there adopted the knowledge of dealing with metals from China.
In the Japanese Tumulus period (250 - 500 CE) Japan was mostly populated with a clan called the Yamato. They would have terra cotta figurines made resembling a person, and would be placed outside of a tomb. Some of these "haniwa" were found to be holding or playing musical instruments such as one playing a drum or another with a five stringed instrument. Crotal bells were also found on costumes and some of the haniwa were singers. The five stringed instrument is traditionally called a zither which originated from Korea at the time. The zither eventually lead to the Japanese yamato-goto. Which was a six stringed zither but had movable bridges.
In the Japanese Tumulus period (250 - 500 CE) Japan was mostly populated with a clan called the Yamato. They would have terra cotta figurines made resembling a person, and would be placed outside of a tomb. Some of these "haniwa" were found to be holding or playing musical instruments such as one playing a drum or another with a five stringed instrument. Crotal bells were also found on costumes and some of the haniwa were singers. The five stringed instrument is traditionally called a zither which originated from Korea at the time. The zither eventually lead to the Japanese yamato-goto. Which was a six stringed zither but had movable bridges.
The Japanese Yamato-goto
In Japan, there was another clan called the Ainu in the 6th century, and there was many battles and wars between the Ainu and the Japanese. They were mercenary troops assisting the Korean Silla kingdom. They were tattooed and they had instruments like a 5 stringed zither and the flute, but today they do not remain that much of their heritage. The Japanese eventually drove the Ainu to the north, and established their own culture and became more independent.
In the 6th Century, China introduced Buddhism to the Japanese, and group of Buddhists were sent from China to teach the Japanese of the rituals and ceremonies practiced. Many of these ceremonies and rituals involved music and therefore the Chinese introduced them to that.
It is also recorded that in the 6th century, a Korean musician by the name of Mimaji, created masked dances and other forms of entertainment including some Southern Chinese music. These types of entertainment would be played in Japanese courts.
In the 7th century, the Japanese came up with their own stories for the creation of music. It was said in Japanese myths that music was a form of entertainment for them and it was used to coax the sun goddess out of her cave. It was a time when the world was robbed of its light, and enslaved in Darkness by the god Tsukuyomi. The sun goddess hid in a cave for protection. The other gods gathered roosters and hung a mirror outside of the cave. A goddess Amenouzume danced nakedly outside and the other gods couldn't contain their laughter. The sun goddess heard this uproar and it puzzled her how anyone could laugh in such a dark time. She went outside and heard the roosters crowing and saw her reflection in the mirror, and as she stepped out the gods covered up the entrance to the cave and light returned to the world once again.
In the 6th Century, China introduced Buddhism to the Japanese, and group of Buddhists were sent from China to teach the Japanese of the rituals and ceremonies practiced. Many of these ceremonies and rituals involved music and therefore the Chinese introduced them to that.
It is also recorded that in the 6th century, a Korean musician by the name of Mimaji, created masked dances and other forms of entertainment including some Southern Chinese music. These types of entertainment would be played in Japanese courts.
In the 7th century, the Japanese came up with their own stories for the creation of music. It was said in Japanese myths that music was a form of entertainment for them and it was used to coax the sun goddess out of her cave. It was a time when the world was robbed of its light, and enslaved in Darkness by the god Tsukuyomi. The sun goddess hid in a cave for protection. The other gods gathered roosters and hung a mirror outside of the cave. A goddess Amenouzume danced nakedly outside and the other gods couldn't contain their laughter. The sun goddess heard this uproar and it puzzled her how anyone could laugh in such a dark time. She went outside and heard the roosters crowing and saw her reflection in the mirror, and as she stepped out the gods covered up the entrance to the cave and light returned to the world once again.
Amaterasu the sun goddess
From this time on, the Japanese (now developed as a nation) began to flourish and their music developed steadily.