Patterns and experiments: Compositional structures in Japanese popular music

This work is a study of Japan’s popular music and its theoretical aspects, as well as an analysis of the influence of jazz music on its development. It begins by defining Japanese music, then the history of music in Japan in the 20th century is outlined. Subsequent chapters are devoted to music theory, with particular emphasis on comparing the use of intervals and scales in Western and Japanese music. The work discusses the theory of Japanese scales, analyzing their structure and function in the context of modern Japanese music. The next chapter focuses on the popular music in Japan in the 21st century, while identifying its characteristic features. Special attention is given to the influence of jazz on the development of Japanese popular music and its presence in today’s musical culture. The final chapter compares mainstream popular music from Japan, Poland and the USA, showing the differences and similarities in styles, structure and use of musical elements. The paper ends with conclusions emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural and theoretical context in music research.