Want to take it old-school? Traditional music takes it all the way back to Japan's music roots... by over a thousand years. This form of music is the oldest form in Japan's history. Buddha chanting, orchestral court music, and folk melodies date all the way back to the Nara period (710 - 794 CE / AD).

This genre uses a blend of folk singing and a variety of instruments in their songs. The biwa (a lute), taiko (drums), koto (a 13-string zither), and shamisen (a 3-string bango) are just some of the instruments used.

Today, traditional and folk music still live on. Many Japanese town festivals play traditional and folk music to the delight of its citizens. In addition, one of the famous brother duos, the Yoshida Brothers, also jam out to this genre, Tsugaru style (a style from Northern Japan), with their favorite sidekick: the shamisen.

(Pictured is R&B singer Double)

The sultry, calm, yet powerful voices of R&B has been a staple in Western music. Yet, in Japanese music, R&B is still new. Yet, with the worldwide success of US singers Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, Japan would soon get a taste of these sweet melodies.

Coming to Japan's shores in the early 90s, the R&B genre was seen as risky at first in the music industry. Japan's music executives were not sure how the public would react to slower, Western, soulful tunes.

The duo of Double was the first Japanese group to introduce this style to the Japanese public. While one of the members, Sachiko, sadly passed away, the spirit of R&B surely did not. They paved the way for other Japanese acts, such as Chemistry, Crystal Kay, and Jamosa, among others, to pursue an R&B career.

(Pictured is Nujabes)

They weren't kidding when the aptly named "Nu-jazz" came onto the music scene. This new style represents electronic jazz. Other names have also been applied to this genre, such as fusion or smooth jazz as well. New Equipment such as laptops, a keyboard, and mixers are used in Nu-jazz instead of the traditional horn, drums, percussion, and guitar.

Nu-jazz has been making much progress since the early 2000s. This genre also collaborates often with hip-hop acts, as a smooth, calm beat score works well with rapping.

The bands Soil & "Pimp" Sessions and Quasimode have been getting much recognition from fans. The most popular nu-jazz partitioner, Nujabes (Seba Jun), has collaborated his beats with numerous Japanese hip-hop and US acts in the past. With his ability to adapt to hip-hop artists, mix his soundtracks seemlessly into anime, and have a catchy beat, Nujabes was one of the most influencial nu-jazz artists in Asian music history.

If you're ever in Okinawa, you may hear a unique style of music. It sounds Japanese, but it's not quite like the mainland music. That's because Ryukyuan music has its own distinct style of music unlike anything else in Japan.

Ryukyuan music is known to be more calm and relaxing, as influenced by their island setting and far location from mainland Japan. This genre of music has many sub-genres, from classical to their island melodies, known as shima uta (島唄).

Their new folk melodies are more upbeat, and thus, influenced modern-day Okinawa music. Okinawa pop also came from the islands, as this style of pop merges American rock with new folk melodies and instrumental sounds.

As for instruments, the main one heard in most Ryukyuan music is the sanshin. The sanshin is three-stringed lute and can be considered the descedant of the modern-day shamisen.

(Pictured is Hibari Misora)

While enka has existed for well over five-hundred years, much of the genre today is part of the modern-enka genre. Used originally to sing about nationalism and deliver political messages in the early 1900s, today enka is more about expressing feelings through love, hardships, and loneliness.

Enka can be described as combining traditional music and the blues. The musical score in the genre is relatively simple, usually going by a minor scale without the "Fa" or "Ti" in it.

Many enka performers tend to wear traditional style clothing, such as kimonos and robes. This is a nod to Japan's history centuries ago, as this style is highly encouraged among peformers.

Enka is showing an upswing in Japan's music scene today. Many singers in their 40s and 50s occasionally place on the Oricon charts. One of the most well-known enka singers today is the half-Japanese, half-black performer, Jero.

(Pictured is Kyu Sakamoto)

Japanese pop (known as J-pop) has come a long way from the 1950s. Yet, it was also during the 50s that the precursor to Japanese pop was created. Kayōkyoku is Western-styled music that lasted from the 1950s to 1989 (it is also called "Showa pop" since Kayōkyoku and the Showa era both ended in 1989).

Many early pop singers, such as Kyu Sakamoto and Hibari Misora, sang in the 1960s for US military members. For 20 years, this genre was the dominant genre of its time, capturing both a unique Japanese flavor and the US crooning style of Elvis.

Kayōkyoku went strong until the 1980s, when the emergence of idols and modern-day J-pop started to form. When Misora passed away in 1989, this marked the end of the Kayōkyoku genre. From then on, the genre joined the J-pop and enka genres.

(Pictured is Crazy Ken Band)

Many jazz fanatics swear by Japanese jazz. While jazz originated in the American south, by the 1960s, Japan embraced jazz with open arms. From there, they fine-tuned their jazz to have a distinct Japanese flavor to it. But make no mistake, Japan's jazz also captures some of the finest jazz in the world.

Japanese jazz musicians have caught the attention of international fans and reviewers alike. Both Japanese-American groups, such as Hiroshima, as well as native musicians, such as Sadao Watanabe, are well-known in the jazz community. Crazy Ken Band, a group that plays jazz and croons about love, cars, and girlfriends, is one popular group today.

This genre has also spawned off another genre during the 1990s, nu-jazz. While jazz is popular among the older generation, nu-jazz represents the newer, younger generation, as it is generally more upbeat and features electronic instruments.

(Pictured is Shonen Knife)

To say rock is a big market in Japan would not do Japanese rock justice. Japan was first exposed to modern rock through iconic legends: Elvis, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones. By 1969, the genre soon exploded.

Starting in the 1980s, a slew of rock artists came to the forefront of the music industry. Shonen Knife, the Pillows, and Glay came out.

The 90s is where Japanese rock became famous outside of its borders. Mr. Children, B'z, Southern All Stars, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, became popular. A variety of rock sub-genres also grew such pop-rock, speed, electronic, and punk rock styles.

The 2000s continued Japanese rock's success. Bump of Chicken, Orange Range, FLOW, UVERworld, among others, were formed. Yet, leave it to the legendary rock groups, B'z and Mr. Children, to continue their Oricon success after 20 years.

(Pictured is X-Japan)

Crazy, goth fashion, hard-sounding heavy metal, and thousands of screaming fans. Welcome to the world of visual kei, Japan's version of the heavy metal scene.

Created from the rock genre, visual kei became immensely popular during the late 80s and early 90s. Yet, by the late 90s, visual kei started to die off. While it declined in Japan during this time, in Europe and the US, fans began to discover this genre in 2000.

It was only until 2007, when X-Japan reunited that the genre slowly began to reemerge. The Japanese film, Detroit Metal City (2008), depicts the heavy metal lifestyle.

Like its rock genre cousin, visual kei also uses the guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums. The big difference lies in the aggressiveness of visual kei's lyrics, its instrument playing, and its flamboyant costumes.

(Pictured is Yellow Magic Orchestra)

Perfume anyone? No, no, not the stuff you put on that smells good. Of course, we're talking about the popular, female electronic-pop group from Hiroshima. Perfume is one of the big groups that is not pop, nor rock. They represent electronic-pop, also known as techno-pop.

Electronic-pop had its roots during the 1970s when a little-known group called Yellow Magic Orchestra began experimenting with sythensizers. By using it as the base of their song, instruments and singing were added to flesh the song out. From there, electronic-pop grew a small, yet devoted fan base.

Everything changed when electronic-pop groups Capsule and Perfume came onto the scene. The genre was thrusted into the spotlight, as several of both groups' songs became instant hits on the Oricon.

Electronic-pop is seeing more play in Japan's clubs, in the indie scene, and most notably, with the popular sythensizer program, Vocaloid.

(Pictured is Utada Hikaru)

When Michael Jackson created his MV Thriller in 1982, he couldn't have imagined that the video would be the foundation of the modern J-pop industry. Two companies, the Avex Group and Johnny's and Associates, began the mainstream pop industry we know today.

Slow pop, uptempo beats, bubblegum pop, and dance songs are all part of modern J-pop today. As the genre became immensely popular in both Japan and in other countries during the late 1980s, the music industry soon became the 2nd largest in the world. This led to creating some of Japan's most successful artists of all-time.

Utada Hikaru and Hamasaki Ayumi are two of most successful acts in J-pop history. Morning Musume and newcomer AKB48 have made bubblegum pop very popular in Japan.

Who would have thought that a MV about zombies and a killer dance back in 1982 would impact J-pop?

(Pictured is Shing02)

Japanese hip-hop lore says the genre began when Hiroshi Fujiwara came back to Japan from the US. Armed with hip-hop records and a deep understanding of the American urban scene, with one play of the record, the music scene was introduced to this new, foreign concept of music.

Early Japanese hip-hop actually mirrored that of modern pop: catchy beats, a fun atmosphere, and fun lyrics.

Since Japan has very few ghettos, their rap didn't talk about poverty, girls, money, and fame. Rather their lyrics talked more about everyday routines: such as getting food, talking on the cell phone, shopping at the mall, and hanging out with friends.

The genre also created a desire for many hip-hop artists to become more African-American, as baggy clothing and the afro hair style became popular. Hip-hop also spawned more English in Japanese songs, popularity of b-boying, and more acceptance of Western culture.

(Pictured is Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra)

Jamaica and Japan, how's that for a mix? When the US reggae group, The Pioneers, first visited Japan in 1975, the Japanese got their first glimpse of the genre. Yet, at the time, most Japanese didn't know how to respond to the new genre. With it's mellow, off-beat rhythms, Japan would not fully embrace reggae. That is, until 1979 when Bob Marley came along.

Today, reggae is played in indie clubs, underground, and at smaller concerts. Some known groups have also incorporated reggae into their music. A well known ska and jazz group, the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra incorporates some features of reggae into their music. The legendary reggae group, Jagatara, also added reggae alongside their rock, funk, and punk styles.

Since reggae has gotten a niche foothold in Japan, relations between the two countries have also advanced. Collobrations between Jamaican and Japanese reggae artists have grown in the 2000s.

(Pictured is Nobuo Uematsu)

Ever hummed the Zelda theme, Final Fantasy melodies, or the original Super Mario song? Many of us have, whether in private or even at work. These are just three games with excellent music that show how deep and catchy video game music really is.

While good gameplay is important to any game, a great musical score can make that same game memorable. People remember their favorite games years after playing it due to its music.

In Japan, video game original sound tracks (OST) are incredibly popular, as they sell alongside J-pop artists at music stores.

Some video game musicians are treated as rock stars. Nobuo Uematsu, the musical composer of the first 10 Final Fantasies, has achieved cult status for providing melodies of love, sorrow, excitement, and adventure in his games. Uematsu and other video game composers have shown that the music of gaming can sing a picture worth 1,000 words.

Ever dreamed of becoming a singer even with a terrible voice? Or how about creating your own songs without the hassle and costs of buying equipment? Vocaloid is your answer.

Bursting onto the scene in 2008, Vocaloid has leveled the music playing field in many ways. Whether one is an amateur, an aspiring singer, or a pro, they all play on the same level. By using auto-tuning and editing the pitch and sound of the voice, a singer can change their voice as well.

Many aspiring singers have, in fact, been discovered through Vocaloid and have signed onto smaller, indie companies. A few groups, such as Supercell, made it mainstream.

Vocaloid also promotes two other aspects: indie music and a vibrant community. With a strong backing, Vocaloid is one of the big trends today in Japanese music.

As the opening intro of an anime begins, the viewer is treated to an awesome, upbeat opening song. When the ending credits roll 20 minutes later, the same person hears a sad, sorrowful melody. For the anime fan, those two songs will define the anime they've just seen.

Make no mistake, anime music is huge in Japan. TV producers and anime creators recognize this. In fact, many anime fans say their favorite animes also has a killer soundtrack.

Since anime music is one way Japanese musicians can become well-known, many bands audition to have their songs on the intro or ending songs of popular anime. Asian Kung-fu Generation, UVERworld, Home Made Kazoku, Utada Hikaru, and other artists have exploded their fan bases with their songs gracing their favorite anime.

Some music executives have said, "without a great intro and ending theme song, that anime will fail." So the next time you hear that killer intro and ending songs to an anime, remember how much those melodies affected your viewing experience.